System and method for supplying and managing usage rights associated with an item repository

ABSTRACT

A system and method for enforcing rights expressions, include specifying a repository rights expression indicating a manner of use of an item at a repository; and associating the repository rights expression with the repository. In a further embodiment, the system includes one or more repositories having associated therewith rights expressions further indicating a condition of use of the item at the repository. In a further embodiment, a repository for use in the system, includes a processor module configured to process the rights expression associated with the repository; and a determination module configured to determine based on the rights expression associated with the repository what action the repository is to take when the repository processes or receives a request for the item. The manner of use or condition of use indicates what action the repository is to take when the repository processes or receives a request for the item.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED DOCUMENTS

[0001] The present invention claims benefit of priority to and is acontinuation-in-part of commonly assigned, co-pending, U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/159,272 of Wang et al, entitled “METHOD ANDAPPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING ENFORCEABLE PROPERTY RIGHTS,” filed Jun. 3,2002, which claims benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional PatentApplications Serial No. 60/331,625, filed on Nov. 20, 2001, No.60/296,117, filed on Jun. 7, 2001, No. 60/296,118, filed on Jun. 7,2001, and No. 60/296,113, filed on Jun. 7, 2001, and which is acontinuation-in-part of commonly assigned, co-pending, U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/046,695, filed on Jan. 17, 2002, which claimsbenefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No.60/261,753, filed on Jan. 17, 2001, the entire disclosures of all ofwhich are hereby incorporated by reference herein.

[0002] The present invention further claims benefit of priority to andis a continuation-in-part of commonly assigned, co-pending, U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/162,212 of Wang, entitled “RIGHTS OFFERING ANDGRANTING,” filed Jun. 5, 2002, which claims benefit of priority to U.S.Provisional Patent Applications Serial No. 60/296,113, filed in Jun. 7,2001, No. 60/331,625, filed on Nov. 20, 2001, and No. 60/331,624 filed,on Nov. 20, 2001, and which is a continuation-in-part of commonlyassigned, co-pending, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/867,745, filedon May 31, 2001, the entire disclosures of all of which are herebyincorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] 1. Field of the Invention

[0004] The exemplary embodiments of the present invention generallyrelate to systems and methods for Digital Rights Management, and moreparticularly to a system and method for supplying and managing rightsexpressions.

[0005] 2. Description of Related Art

[0006] One of the most important needs to enable the development ofwidespread distribution of digital works, for example, documents orother content in forms readable by computers, and management of the useof digital works via electronic means, and the Internet in particular,is the ability to designate and enforce the intellectual property rightsand other rights of content owners, consumers and other stakeholdersduring the distribution and use of digital works. Efforts to meet thisneed have been termed Intellectual Property Rights Management (IPRM),Digital Property Rights Management (DPRM), Intellectual PropertyManagement (IPM), Rights Management (RM), and Electronic CopyrightManagement (ECM), collectively referred to as Digital Rights Management(DRM) herein. There are a number of issues to be considered in effectinga DRM System. For example, authentication, authorization, accounting,payment and financial clearing, rights specification, rightsverification, rights enforcement, and document protection issues shouldbe addressed. Commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,530,235, No. 5,629,980,No. 5,634,012, No. 5,638,443, No. 5,715,403, No. 6,233,684, and No.6,236,971, the entire disclosures of all of which are herebyincorporated by reference herein, disclose DRM systems addressing theseand other issues.

[0007] For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,634,012 discloses a system forcontrolling the distribution of digital documents. Each rendering devicehas a repository associated therewith. A predetermined set of usagetransaction steps define a protocol used by the repositories forenforcing usage rights associated with a document. Usage rights persistwith the document content. The usage rights can permit various mannersof use of the content, such as viewing only, use once, distribution, andthe like. Usage rights can be contingent on payment or satisfaction ofother conditions and variables. Conceptually, a repository can include aset of functional specifications defining core functionality. Arepository can include a trusted system in that the repository canmaintain physical integrity, communications integrity and behavioralintegrity. A repository can be removable or stationary, can be big orsmall or portable, can be in any suitable shape, such as a card or smartcard, or can have other functionalities, such as a microprocessor.

[0008] The use and distribution of digital content, for example,documents or other information that can be rendered by a computer orother device, can be controlled using usage rights and conditions. Thispermits digital content to be distributed in a flexible manner whileprotecting the rights of the content owner and permitting the contentowner, and others adding value to transactions, to produce a revenuestream from the distribution. However, tangible items, such as goods andservices, typically cannot be distributed in such a flexible manner.

[0009] Auctions, reverse auctions, aggregation mechanisms, and otherdistribution models can be used to distribute goods and services in amore flexible manner. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,897,620 discloses asystem for matching a destination and unspecified-time with an airlineflight to permit airlines to fill otherwise empty seats. However, thedisclosed system merely matches a traveler with an airline ticket andtypically does not permit the flexible distribution of various servicesand goods.

[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 6,041,308 discloses a system for encouraging buyersto submit Conditional Purchase Offers (CPOs) to a CPO management systemfor a desired product. The CPO management system processes each receivedCPO to determine whether one or more sellers are willing to accept agiven CPO. While this system can be applied to more diverse goods andservices, the disclosed system also is merely a mechanism for matchingbuyers to sellers.

[0011] Notwithstanding new business models and approaches to sellingvarious goods and services, such as those discussed above, the sale andexchange of goods and services typically still relies on legal theoriesand relationships for enforcing behavior. For example, the parties toeach transaction ultimately have to agree, either directly orindirectly, on the parameters for delivering the goods and services,such as price, quantities, and the item identity. Accordingly, trade ofgoods and services can be restrained by legal and relationship issues.Additionally, there is a need for business models and informationtechnology systems to recognize that there are stakeholders in additionto content owners and consumers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Therefore, there is a need for a system and method that allowsfor the trade of goods and services, unrestrained by legal andrelationship issues. In addition, there is a need for a system andmethod that recognize stakeholders in addition to content owners andconsumers. The above and other needs are addressed by the exemplaryembodiments of the present invention, which provide an improved systemand method for supplying and managing rights expressions.

[0013] Accordingly, in one aspect of an embodiment of the presentinvention, there is provided a method for enforcing rights expressionsspecifying manners of use of an item, including specifying by apotential recipient of an item a first rights expression indicating afirst manner of use of the item proposed by the recipient; specifying bya provider of the item a second rights expression indicating a secondmanner of use of the item proposed by the provider; determining if thereis a correspondence between the first rights expression and the secondrights expression; and applying a rule to a determined correspondencebetween the first rights expression and the second rights expression todetermine if the recipient should be granted use of the item.

[0014] In another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention,there is provided a system for enforcing rights expressions specifyingmanners of use of an item, including means for specifying by a potentialrecipient of an item a first rights expression indicating a first mannerof use of the item proposed by the recipient; means for specifying by aprovider of the item a second rights expression indicating a secondmanner of use of the item proposed by the provider; means fordetermining if there is a correspondence between the first rightsexpression and the second rights expression; and means for applying arule to a determined correspondence between the first rights expressionand the second rights expression to determine if the recipient should begranted use of the item.

[0015] In another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention,there is provided a method for enforcing rights specifying manners ofuse of an item, including specifying by a recipient of an item a firstrights expression indicating at least on of a desired manner of use ofthe item by the recipient and a condition of use of the item by therecipient; associating the rights expression with the item; andsupplying the item to the recipient based on satisfaction of at leastone of the desired manner of use of the item by the recipient and thecondition of use of the item by the recipient.

[0016] In another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention,there is provided a system for enforcing rights specifying manners ofuse of an item, including means for specifying by a recipient of an itema first rights expression indicating at least on of a desired manner ofuse of the item by the recipient and a condition of use of the item bythe recipient; means for associating the rights expression with theitem; and means for supplying the item to the recipient based onsatisfaction of at least one of the desired manner of use of the item bythe recipient and the condition of use of the item by the recipient.

[0017] In another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention,there is provided a method for enforcing rights expressions specifyingmanners of use of an item, including specifying a repository rightsexpression indicating a manner of use of an item at a repository; andassociating the repository rights expression with the repository. Themanner of use indicates at least one of what action the repository is totake when the repository processes the item and what action therepository is to take when the repository receives a request for theitem.

[0018] In another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention,there is provided a system for enforcing rights expressions specifyingmanners of use of an item, including means for specifying a repositoryrights expression indicating a manner of use of an item at a repository;and means for associating the repository rights expression with therepository. The manner of use indicates at least one of what action therepository is to take when the repository processes the item and whataction the repository is to take when the repository receives a requestfor the item.

[0019] In another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention,there is provided a system for enforcing rights expressions specifyingmanners of use of an item, including one or more repositories havingassociated therewith one or more rights expressions indicating at leastone of a manner of use and a condition of use of an item at arepository. The manner of use and condition of use indicates at leastone of what action the repository is to take when the repositoryprocesses the item and what action the repository is to take when therepository receives a request for the item.

[0020] In another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention,there is provided a repository for use in a system for enforcing rightsexpressions specifying manners of use of an item, including a processormodule configured to process a rights expressions associated with therepository and indicating at least one of a manner of use and acondition of use of an item at the repository; and a determinationmodule configured to determine based on the rights expression associatedwith the repository at least one of what action the repository is totake when the repository processes the item and what action therepository is to take when the repository receives a request for theitem.

[0021] Still other aspects, features, and advantages of the presentinvention are readily apparent from the following detailed description,simply by illustrating a number of exemplary embodiments andimplementations, including the best mode contemplated for carrying outthe present invention. The present invention is also capable of otherand different embodiments, and its several details can be modified invarious respects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of thepresent invention. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions are to beregarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and notby way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and inwhich like reference numerals refer to similar elements and in which:

[0023]FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary Digital Rights Management systemon which various exemplary embodiments of the present invention can beimplemented;

[0024]FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary rights label that can be employedin the exemplary systems of FIGS. 1 and 5-7;

[0025]FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary license that can be employed inthe exemplary systems of FIGS. 1 and 5-7;

[0026]FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary item ticket that can be employedin the exemplary systems of FIGS. 1 and 5-7;

[0027]FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary Digital Rights Management systemin which a client and server repository can create and associate usagerights;

[0028]FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary Digital Rights Management systemin which plural repositories associate plural usage rights with an item;

[0029]FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary Digital Rights Management systemin which a central control repository with usage rights associatedtherewith controls functions to be performed with respect to an item;

[0030]FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary repository that can be employed inthe exemplary systems of FIGS. 1 and 5-7;

[0031]FIG. 9 is a flowchart of an exemplary process for processingrights expressions of a recipient of an item based on rules and that canbe employed in the exemplary systems of FIGS. 1 and 5-7;

[0032]FIG. 10 is a flowchart of an exemplary process for processingrights expressions of a recipients and suppliers of an item and that canbe employed in the exemplary systems of FIGS. 1 and 5-7; and

[0033]FIG. 11 is a flowchart of an exemplary process for processingrights expressions associated with a repository and that can be employedin the exemplary systems of FIGS. 1 and 5-7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0034] A system and method for supplying and managing rights expressionsare described. In the following description, for purposes ofexplanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to providea thorough understanding of the present invention. It is apparent to oneskilled in the art, however, that the present invention can be practicedwithout these specific details or with equivalent arrangements. In someinstances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagramform in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present invention.

[0035] Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numeralsdesignate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views,and more particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, there is illustrated anexemplary Digital Rights Management system 100 that can be used inconnection with the described exemplary embodiments to specify, supply,manage, process, and the like, rights expressions for enforcing usagerights associated with an item. In an exemplary embodiment, a usageright can include a specification of a permitted manner of use of anitem, which can include anything for which use can be controlled byassociated usage rights, such as digital content, software, services,goods, and resources. A resource can include a digital device or portionthereof to which access can be controlled by associated usage rights. Arights expression can include any suitable expression of a usage right,such as a rights label, a license, or fragments thereof. A rights labelcan include a prepackaged set of usage rights not associated with aspecific item. A license can include a prepackaged set of usage rightsincluding an item association. A rights expression language, such aseXtensible Rights Markup Language (XrML), eXtensible Access ControlMarkup Language (XACML), Open Digital Rights Language (ODRL), and thelike, can be used to express a rights expression and can include anysuitable language having predefined syntax and semantics and that can beused to express a usage right.

[0036] In FIG. 1, the exemplary Digital Rights Management system 100 canbe employed to specify and enforce property rights for items, such ascontent, goods, services, other items, and the like. In an exemplaryembodiment, an enforceable property right, for example, a right to use aspecified item in accordance with usage rights associated with the itemcan be provided. In a further exemplary embodiment, a usage right caninclude a declarative specification of a manner of use of an item thatis identifiable and enforceable through a software mechanism.

[0037] The exemplary Digital Rights Management system 100, for example,can include a user activation module, in the form of activation server110 that can issue public and private key pairs 112 to users in aprotected fashion. During an activation process, information can beexchanged between the activation server 110 and a client environment120, such as a computer or other device associated with a user, whereina client component 122 can be downloaded and installed in the clientenvironment 120.

[0038] In an exemplary embodiment, the client component 122 can beconfigured to be tamper resistant and can include the set of public andprivate keys 112 issued by the activation server 110 as well as othercomponents, such as an engine for parsing or rendering a protected itemticket 134. In an exemplary embodiment, the item ticket 134 can be usedto specify an item and, for example, can include a mechanism by which alicense can be associated with a non-digital item, for example, atangible item, such as goods or services.

[0039] A rights label 132 can be associated with the item ticket 134 andcan be used to specify usage rights and zero or more conditions, forexample, that can be selected by an end-user. In an exemplaryembodiment, a condition can include a specification of one or moreprerequisites for exercising a manner of use of an item. A licenseserver 140, for example, can be used to manage the encryption keys 112and issues rights expressions in the form of licenses 142 for theexercise of a property right.

[0040] In an exemplary embodiment, the licenses 142 can embody theactual granting of usage rights to an end user based on usage rightsselected from the rights label 132. For example, the rights label 132can include usage rights for redeeming the item ticket 134 for an itemon the condition of payment of a fee of five dollars and redeeming ordistributing item ticket 134 upon payment of a fee of ten dollars. Theclient component 122 can be used to interpret and enforce the usagerights that have been specified in the license 142. In an exemplaryembodiment, the devices and subsystems of the exemplary Digital RightsManagement system 100 can communicate with each other over acommunications network 170.

[0041]FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary rights label that can be employedin the exemplary systems of FIGS. 1 and 5-7. In FIG. 2, the rights label132 can include plural rights offers 202. The rights offer 202 caninclude usage rights 202 a, conditions 202 b, and ticket specification202 c. The ticket specification 202 c can include any suitable mechanismfor referencing, calling, locating or otherwise specifying the itemticket 134 associated with the rights offer 202. The rights label 132can be expressed using a suitable rights expression.

[0042]FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary license that can be employed inthe exemplary systems of FIGS. 1 and 5-7. In FIG. 3, a rights expressionin the form of the license 142, for example, can include a uniquelicense identification (ID) 142 a and a grant 142 b, for example,including usage rights, a principal, conditions, state variables, and aticket specification designating an associated item ticket 134. Thelicense 142 also can include a digital signature 142 c, including anysuitable cryptographic keys, and the like, for unlocking item ticket134.

[0043] In an exemplary embodiment, usage rights can be used to specifymanners of use. A manner of use can include the ability to use an itemin a specified way for a specified period of time, to buy an item for aspecified period of time, and the like. In an exemplary embodiment,usage rights can be bundled, can be used to specify transfer rights,such as distribution rights, can be used to permit granting of usagerights to others or to permit the derivation of usage rights, and thelike. Such usage rights also can be referred to as meta-rights, whichcan include rights that can be manipulated, modified, and the like, toderive other usage rights. Thus, the meta-rights can include usagerights to usage rights, such as rights to offer, grant, obtain,transfer, delegate, track, surrender, exchange, revoke, and the like,usage rights to/from others. The meta-rights can include the rights tomodify the conditions associated with other rights. For example, ameta-right can include the right to extend or reduce the scope of aparticular right. A meta-right also can include a right to extend orreduce the validation period of a right.

[0044] In an exemplary embodiment, one or more conditions to besatisfied in order to exercise the manner of use in a specified usageright can be employed. For, example, a condition can include the paymentof a fee, the submission of personal data or any other suitablerequirement desired before permitting exercise of a manner of use. Theconditions can include access conditions. For example, access conditionscan apply to a particular group of users, such as students in auniversity or members of a book club. In an exemplary embodiment, acondition can be that a user is a particular person or a member of aparticular group. In an exemplary embodiment, rights and conditions canexist as separate entities or can be combined.

[0045] In the exemplary embodiments, some conditions need be satisfiedin order to render the item ticket 134 or otherwise convert the itemticket 134 into a form that is redeemable for the item specifiedtherein. In an exemplary embodiment, other conditions can be applied tothe ticket 134 in redeemable form, and can be referred to as postlicense conditions.

[0046] In an exemplary embodiment, the state variables can be used totrack dynamic states, conditions, and the like. For example, the statevariables can include variables having values that represent the statusof an item, the status of usage rights, the status of a license or otherdynamic conditions. The state variables can be tracked, for example, byclearinghouse 160 or another device, based on identification mechanismsin the license 142 and the ticket 134.

[0047] In an exemplary embodiment, the value of the state variables canbe used in a condition. For example, a usage right can include the rightto redeem the item ticket 134 for specified goods and a condition caninclude that the usage right can be exercised three times. Each time theusage right is exercised, the value of the state variable can beincremented. In an exemplary embodiment, when the value of the statevariable reaches three, the condition can no longer be satisfied and theticket 134 can no longer be redeemed.

[0048] In an exemplary embodiment, a state variable can include time.For example, a condition of the license 142 can specify that the itemticket 134 be redeemed within thirty days. A state variable can be usedto track the expiration of the thirty days time limit. In an exemplaryembodiment, the changes in the state of a usage right can be tracked asa collection of state variables. Advantageously, the collection of suchchanges of the state of a usage right can be used to represent the usagehistory of such a usage right.

[0049] In an exemplary embodiment, the item ticket 134 can be preparedwith a document preparation application 138 installed on a computer 130,for example, associated with the distributor of an item, a contentservice provider or any other suitable party. The preparation of theitem ticket 134, for example, can include the specifying of the rightsand any suitable conditions or state variables values under which theitem ticket 134 can be redeemed. The rights label 132 can be associatedwith the item ticket 134 and the item ticket 134 can be protected with acryptographic algorithm or any other suitable mechanism for preventingprocessing, rendering, and the like, of the item ticket 134.

[0050] In an exemplary embodiment, a rights language, such as XrML,XACML, ODRL, and the like, can be used to express a rights expressionspecifying the rights, conditions, state variables, and the like, forthe rights label 132. In a further exemplary embodiment, however, therights and conditions can be specified in any suitable manner.Accordingly, the process of specifying rights refers to any suitableprocess for associating rights with a ticket. The rights label 132associated with the item ticket 134 and the encryption key used toencrypt item ticket 134 can be transmitted to license server 140 overthe communications network 170.

[0051]FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary item ticket that can be employedin the exemplary systems of FIGS. 1 and 5-7. In FIG. 4, the item ticket134 can include an item reference 134 a that can be used to specify theitem, and post license conditions 134 b. In an exemplary embodiment, theitem ticket 134, with the security mechanism unlocked, can include ahuman readable or computer readable coupon, a code, a document, and thelike. Accordingly, an item ticket can include any suitable tangible orintangible indication of an item. The item ticket 134 can be used tospecify one or more items. Thus, advantageously, usage rights andconditions can be associated with any suitable item including, objects,classes, categories, and services, for which use, access, distributionor execution is to be controlled, restricted, recorded, metered, chargedor monitored in some fashion. The item ticket 134 and the license 142thus can be used to define a property right.

[0052] In an exemplary embodiment, the item ticket 134 can be linked tothe corresponding item through the item reference 134 a. Such linkingcan include any suitable type of association, such as a description, apointer, and the like. For example, the ticket 134 can include a uniquecode associated with an item through a database record. When the code ispresented to a vendor, the database can be searched and thecorresponding item can be delivered. The item ticket 134 also caninclude a human readable description of the item or any suitable postlicense condition 134 b not yet satisfied. For example, if a conditionin the license 142 specifies that the item ticket 134 must be redeemedat a certain location or time, such a condition can be parsed andtransferred to the item ticket 134 as the post license condition 134 b.

[0053] An exemplary workflow for the exemplary Digital Rights Managementsystem 100 can include a user operating within the client environment120 being activated for receiving the item ticket 134 by the activationserver 110. Then, the public-private key pair 112 and, for example,user/machine specific information, can be downloaded to the clientenvironment 120 in the form of the client software component 122. In anexemplary embodiment, the activation process can be accomplished at anysuitable time prior to the issuing of license 142.

[0054] In an exemplary embodiment, the usage rights, conditions, statevariables, and the like, of the license 142 can be stored together withthe item ticket 134 or can be associated with the item ticket 134. Forexample, the item ticket 134 can include a reference to the usage rightsthat can be stored elsewhere. When the user wishes to obtain a specificenforceable property right to an item, the user can make a request forthe item ticket 134, which specifies the item through the item reference134 a.

[0055] In an exemplary embodiment, a user can browse a Web site runningon Web server 150 a of a vendor 150, using a browser installed in theclient environment 120, and request an item corresponding to the itemticket 134, and as specified in the item reference 134 a. The user canexamine the rights offers 202 in the rights label 132 associated withthe item ticket 134 and can select desired usage rights and conditions.During this process, the user can go through a series of steps, forexample, to satisfy conditions of the usage rights, including a feetransaction, other transactions, such as the collection of information,and the like.

[0056] When the appropriate conditions and other prerequisites, such asthe collection of a fee and verification that the user has beenactivated, are satisfied, the Web server 150 a can be used to contactthe license server 140, for example, over the communications network170, including a secure communications channel, such as a channel usinga Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), and the like. The license server 140 thencan generate the license 142 for the item ticket 134 and the Web server150 a can be used to download the item ticket 134 and the license 142.

[0057] In an exemplary embodiment, the license 142 can include the usagerights 202 a and the conditions 202 b selected from the rights label 132of the item ticket 134 and can be downloaded from a computer associatedwith a vendor, distributor or other party. In an exemplary embodiment,the item ticket 134 can be secured, for example, through encryption orother security mechanisms and can be rendered, accessed, and the like,through a rights expression in the form of the license 142, which caninclude a mechanism for unlocking the item ticket 134. In an exemplaryembodiment, any suitable mechanisms for controlling access to documentscan be employed.

[0058] The client component 122 in the client environment 120 can theninterpret the license 142 and allow rendering or other access of theitem ticket 134 based on the rights and conditions specified in thelicense 142. In an exemplary embodiment, any suitable mechanisms for theinterpretation and enforcement of usage rights and related systems andtechniques can be employed. The above processing can take placesequentially, approximately simultaneously or in various sequentialorders. For example, if the license 142 is configured for the purchaseof an item at a price of ten dollars within one month of the issue dateof the item ticket 134, the client component 122 can render the itemticket 134 as a displayable or printable coupon for such a purchaseexpiring in one month, wherein the price and expiration data can be thepost license conditions 134 b. In an exemplary embodiment, suchconditions can be set forth on the rendered or otherwise unlocked formof the item ticket 134 and can be discerned upon redemption of the itemticket 134.

[0059] Advantageously, the exemplary Digital Rights Management system100 addresses security aspects of the item tickets 134. For example, theexemplary system 100 can be used to authenticate the license 142 thathas been issued by the license server 140. In an exemplary embodiment,such authentication can include the application 122 configured todetermine if the license 142 can be trusted. For example, theapplication 122 can be configured to include the capability to verifyand validate the signature 142 c, such as a cryptographic signature orother identifying characteristic of the license 142, using any suitablemechanisms, algorithms or techniques. In a further exemplary embodiment,the license 142 and the item ticket 134 can be distributed fromdifferent entities.

[0060] In an exemplary embodiment, the clearinghouse 160 can be used toprocess payment transactions, verify payment prior to issuing a license,and the like. In further exemplary embodiments, however, various otherworkflows can be employed, various other parties can be involved, andvarious other devices and architectures can be used to accomplish theworkflows.

[0061] In an exemplary embodiment, a distributor or other party canassociate the rights label 132 with the item ticket 134. The rightslabel 132 can be registered with clearinghouse 160 and stored in arepository, such as a memory device associated with clearinghouse 160.The item ticket 134 can be stored in a ticket repository, such as astorage device associated with the distributor. In a further exemplaryembodiment, the rights label 132 and the item ticket 134 can be storedon the same device or in a common file.

[0062] In an exemplary embodiment, the private key 112 or otheridentification information can be issued to the user upon purchase ofthe license 142. Payment for the item can be passed from the user to thelicense server 140 or other party by way of the clearinghouse 160, whichcan collect requests from the user and from other users wishing topurchase a property right in items. The clearinghouse 160 also cancollect payment information, such as debit transaction information,credit card transaction information, information regarding otherelectronic payment schemes, and the like, and forward the collectedpayments as a payment batch to the ultimate provider of the item.

[0063] In an exemplary embodiment, the clearinghouse 160 can retain ashare of the payment and the distributor can retain a portion of thebatch payment from the item provider and forward a payment to the itemprovider. The clearinghouse 160 can be used to determine the paymentmade to parties in the revenue stream of the item. The clearinghouse 160can serve as a transaction aggregator, which can function to aggregateplural transactions over a period of time, and charge parties in anappropriate manner, advantageously, reducing accounting overhead.

[0064] In an exemplary embodiment, a user can request the item ticket134 corresponding to a desired item through the Web server 150 a andprovide information, such as credit card and charge authorizationinformation, personal information, and the like, to permit theclearinghouse 160 to satisfy conditions specified in the license 142associated with the item ticket 134. Authorization identificationinformation, such as a private key, obtained from the activation server110 also can be submitted. Advantageously, the license 142 can permitthe item ticket 134 to be decrypted or otherwise can allow the securitymechanism thereof to be unlocked so that the item ticket 134 can be usedin accordance with the usage rights specified in license 142.

[0065] In an exemplary embodiment, the item ticket 134 can be used tospecify any suitable item and, when combined with the usage rights 202 aselected from the rights label 132 and embodied in the license 142, canrepresent an enforceable property right that can be exercised byredeeming the item ticket 134. The redemption of the item ticket 134 caninclude presenting a rendered coupon or code to a vendor electronicallyor physically. In further exemplary embodiments, however, the redemptionof the item ticket 134 can take on various other forms and can includevarious other processes. Accordingly, redeeming can include any suitableprocess or mechanism for converting the item ticket 134 to access anitem.

[0066] In an exemplary embodiment, clear content 136, such asunprotected content, can be prepared with the application 138, such as adocument preparation application, installed on the computer 130associated with a content publisher, a content distributor, a contentservice provider or any other suitable party. Preparation of the clearcontent 136 can include specifying the usage rights 202 a and theconditions 202 b under which the clear content 136 can be used,associating the rights offer 202 with the clear content 136, andprotecting the clear content 136 with, for example, a cryptographyalgorithm to generate protected content.

[0067] In an exemplary embodiment, a rights language, such as XrML,XACML, ODRL, and the like, can be used to specify the rights offer 202.However, the rights offer 202 can be specified in any suitable manner.The specifying of rights information can include creating, deriving orotherwise utilizing information that relates to rights expressions. Inan exemplary embodiment, the rights offer 202 can be in the form of apre-defined specification, profile, template, and the like, that can beassociated with the protected content. Accordingly, the process ofspecifying the rights offer 202 can include any suitable process forassociating rights, conditions, and the like, with content. The rightsoffer 202 associated with the protected content and the encryption key112 used to encrypt the clear content 136 can be transmitted to thelicense server 140 and can eventually be used by the client environment120.

[0068] In an exemplary embodiment, an enforceable property can beillustrated with respect to a stock or other market exchange. Forexample, a property right can include the right to buy or sell asecurity in advance or at a threshold. In an exemplary embodiment, theitem ticket 134 can be used specify 1000 shares of stock of a specificcompany in the item reference 134 a. The right to buy the stock betweentwo thresholds, at a specified future time, and the like, can bespecified by usage rights and conditions. The item ticket 134 also canbe used to specify a margin call, the ability to change the type ofstock, such common or preferred, the ability to convert stock options toregular stock, and the like. In an exemplary embodiment, usage rightscan be associated with stock during bankruptcy proceedings, for example,for determining who can liquidate first and in what manner. Thecondition of during bankruptcy and the status of other parties, such ascreditors, for example, can be expressed as the state variables.

[0069] In an exemplary embodiment, an enforceable property can beillustrated with respect to real estate. For example, a property rightto real property can be expressed to include joint-tenant ortenant-in-common relationships, with an option to convert to otheroptions, with a change of percentage of ownerships, with designation ofa survivorship option, and the like. Advantageously, such ownershiprights can be expressed as usage rights and the real property can bespecified in the item reference 134 a of the item ticket 134.

[0070] In an exemplary embodiment, the item reference 134 a of the itemticket 134 can be used to specify professional services. For example, auser can buy the right to visit an office of a specified dentist, theoffice of one or more associated dentists, for a period of 1 year, whilepaying only a fixed or variable co-payment for each visit, up to amaximum amount. In an exemplary embodiment, the item ticket 134 can beused to specify a lawyer, an accountant, and the like, and usage rightsand conditions can be used to specify a period of time, a fixed numberof times, a specific project or issue to which use of the item islimited. In an exemplary embodiment, the item reference 134 a can beused to specify in advance the right for services offered by anorganization, including the rights associated with intellectualproperty, such as patents, copyright, trademarks, and the like.Advantageously, the exemplary embodiments can be applied to softwareprogrammers, customer service representative, training services or othertechnical or non-technical services.

[0071] The exemplary embodiments can be employed to allow a user toobtain a property right and later sell the property right to athird-party, for example, if such transfers are authorized by usagerights of the license 142 associated with the item ticket 134.Advantageously, the exemplary embodiments are applicable to mobility andliquidity for different types of assets, enabling the expansion ofmarket concepts to include property rights to any suitable item. Forexample, a property right can include the item ticket 134 defining acoupon, a gift-certificate, a rain-check, an exchange certificate, areturn, an authorization, and the like, where rights and conditions ofthe license 142 can be associated with the redemption thereof. In anexemplary embodiment, a coupon can be configured so as to be renderedonly after the conditions are satisfied. In a further exemplaryembodiment, post license conditions 134 b can be expressed in therendered coupon.

[0072] The exemplary embodiments are applicable to any suitable type offinancial account or transaction, such as certificates of deposit,checking accounts, wire tranfers, e-mails, fund transfers, currencyexchanges, locks on current or future interest rates, points or otherfees paid for a loan, bonds, loans, secondary loans, and stocks, forexample, which can have one or more attributes, such as maturity datesor deadlines. The item reference 134 a can be used to specify such itemsand the license 142 can be used to specify rights and conditionsassociated with the access to such items.

[0073] The exemplary embodiments are applicable to the right for futuretangible or intangible things or objects, such as books in printed or inelectronic form, music, on physical media or in electronic form, and thelike. The usage rights and conditions of the license 142 can be used tolimit a specified right to during or after a period of time or to apredetermined number of units, such as units of CDs or books.

[0074] In an exemplary embodiment, a property right can include rightsexpressed for a will or a trust for the distribution of property orother assets, for the provision of rights, services or benefits forpersons or entities and other things and that can be specified by theitem reference 134 a. Advantageously, access can be restricted tocertain parties or in any other suitable way by usage rights andconditions.

[0075] In an exemplary embodiment, a property right can include onlineservices. For example, diet and vitamin calculations customized based oncharacteristics and data of an individual, stock quotations, interestrate and mortgage payment calculations, credit ratings, backgroundchecks, loan application and approval, online banking, investmentadvice, translation services, graphic design, advertisement services,currency conversion and exchange, job placement, and the like, can bespecified by the item reference 134 a of the item ticket 134. In anexemplary embodiment, the item ticket 134 can include an access code tothe online service that can be used after conditions of the license 142have been satisfied.

[0076] In an exemplary embodiment, a provider of items or anotherspecified party can specify the conditions for access to thecorresponding items. For example, a user wishing to obtain a propertyright in such an item would have to satisfy such conditions. In anexemplary embodiment, such a concept can be employed regardless of thedirection or order in which information travels. For example, a user cansupply conditions to a supplier in the license 142, and which thesupplier would have to satisfy in order to make a sale.

[0077] In an exemplary embodiment, a partial satisfaction of conditionscan result in a property right or other result, which can be the same ordifferent when compared to full satisfaction of the conditions. Forexample, a University can collect research materials for disposition,such as for archiving for prosperity or for making the researchmaterials available to students, wherein the University can be therecipient of the information. The University can create a server siteand persons can upload material thereto. The University, however, maywant to accept the information only under certain conditions. Forexample, the University may decide that only recognized expert inviteescan be allowed to provide information, such that providers mustexpressly agree that the University becomes the owner of theinformation, and that the providers can upload to the server during offpeak hours. The University, as the recipient, can have the right tospecify any suitable terms for receiving such information.

[0078] If a provider of such information does not agree with therequirement of University that the University is to have ownership ofsuch information, then the University might still accept the work, butmay alter treatment of such information. For example, instead of theinformation being made available to all students, access to suchinformation can be restricted to a few people. In an exemplaryembodiment, the provider of such information can provide suchinformation subject to conditions that can be specified in the itemticket 134, and the recipient can provide conditions for accepting suchinformation. Accordingly, there can be plural rights expressions havingusage rights and conditions associated with an item, with some of therights and conditions being able to be satisfied, while others may not,and which can still result in an agreement on the basis of the rightsconditions that do match up, such as access to a work, agreement on apurchase and sale, and the like.

[0079] In an exemplary embodiment, the rights and conditions required bya first party and not prohibited by the second party, plus the rightsand conditions required by the second party and not prohibited by thefirst party, can be combined to form the rights and conditions of anagreement, such as the terms on which access to a digital work isgranted. In a further exemplary embodiment, however, a party can specifya condition that the party agrees to no deal unless it is solely on theproffered rights and conditions of such a party. Thus, in an exemplaryembodiment, the rights and conditions of another party can includeprohibited rights and conditions.

[0080] In an exemplary embodiment, in addition to content owners,consumers, and the like, a party can include any suitable stakeholder,such as a parent or a government. One or more of the parties also canspecify usage rights or conditions within ranges, so that if the rangecan be matched there can still be agreement on the basis of a matchappearing within the range. For example, a dealer can specify that thedealer will accept an offer from a customer at a price within the rangeof $5 and up. In an exemplary embodiment, the dealer can employtechniques to keep the range hidden from the customer.

[0081] Enlightened self-interest can well dictate to a person, forexample, a distributor of digital music, movies, and the like, thatflexibility can be the best policy. For example, a distributor can offermusic for sale on liberal terms to make high volume sales and can offerthe music with rights the distributor believes consumers will findattractive. If consumers in general or some subset of the consumers findsuch terms unattractive, the distributor can decide to allow such termsto be modified to suit the consumer, an can well invite suchmodifications. For example, the distributor can offer a package of tensongs for one dollar and believe that such an offer is an attractiveproposition for customers. However, if a customer wishes to purchasejust one of the songs and is willing to pay fifty cents, the distributormay find such terms perfectly acceptable. In an exemplary embodiment,the distributor can specify that customers can propose modifications tothe proffered rights and conditions, propose new rights and conditionsor select among alternatives. If the rights and conditions requested bythe consumer are within parameters, such as a range, agreeable to thedistributor, a deal can be formed. In an exemplary embodiment,advantageously, the distributor can change parameters dynamically tobetter match rights and conditions that are requested.

[0082] The exemplary embodiments are applicable to a customer that isreceptive to receiving promotional materials on subjects of interest tothe customer. For example, the customer may wish to receive travelbrochures, and the like. However, the customer may wish to control whatinformation the customer receives, and when and how the customerreceives such information. Such a business application is different fromthe distributor scenario, where the distributor may have valuablecontent, such as a popular song, movie, and the like, for which there isa demand. By contrast, the provider of the promotional materials mayhave to convince people to accept such material. Accordingly, the tablesare turned on bargaining power and the proposed recipient might oftencall the shots on rights and conditions. For example, the provider maydecide to grant all desired rights in the content, impose a fewconditions or none at all, and meet all terms demanded by the customers.

[0083] The exemplary embodiments can employ a digital ticket, forexample, as further described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,336,971. In anexemplary embodiment, a digital ticket can include a digital token, andthe like, possession of which can be a condition for exercising a mannerof use specified in a usage right. For example, with respect to theexemplary embodiments relating to the University, an invitee can depositinformation with the University, if the invitee presents an appropriatedigital ticket. In a further exemplary embodiment, a person can vote, ifthe person present a digital ticket recognized by the elections board.The digital ticket can be punched to ensure no double voting with thesame ticket. In a further exemplary embodiment, a sender can send ane-mail that does not meet standards for acceptance of a recipient, forexample, the e-mail is over a one kilobyte limit, if the sender presentsa digital ticket. In an exemplary embodiment, the presence, possession,presentment, and the like, of a digital ticket can be a condition to theexercise of a right expressed by the usage rights.

[0084] In an exemplary embodiment, Digital Rights Management systems,where access to digital resources can be controlled by a rightsexpression, can be employed. Typically, in such systems, rightsexpressions specifying usage rights can be created and associated withan item at one repository and another repository can then request accessto the item in a client-server relationship. In an exemplary embodiment,a client-server relationship is provided, wherein client and serverrepositories can create a rights expression specifying the rights label132 and the usage rights 202 a and can associate the rights expressionwith an item. Once the rights label 132 and the item ticket 134 havebeen created, the client environments 120 can be configured to pushitems, such as digital content, up to servers for distribution or otherpurposes, as prescribed in the associated rights.

[0085]FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary Digital Rights Management system500 in which a client and server repository can create and associateusage rights. In FIG. 5, a digital work or other item 502, for example,in the form of digital content, such as a movie, song, and the like, canbe employed, but the exemplary embodiments can be applied to anysuitable type of item. A creator can create the item 502 and specify,via a rights expression, usage rights 504 for association with the item502. In an exemplary embodiment, the usage rights 504 and the associateditem 502 can be deposited in respective client repositories 506 b and506 a. In a further exemplary embodiment, the usage rights 504 and theassociated item 502 can be deposited in a same client repository 506,such as a common repository.

[0086] In an exemplary embodiment, the repositories 506 b and 506 a canbe the same or different physical devices. The repository 506 caninitiate a session with a server repository 508. The repository 506 orrepository 506 a if the usage rights 504 and the item 502 are not in acommon repository can upload the item 502 along with the associatedusage rights 504 to the server repository 508. In an exemplaryembodiment, the item 502 can be uploaded or otherwise transmittedbefore, after or at the same time as the usage rights 504. For example,the item 502 can be uploaded after it is determined that the serverrepository 508 accepts access thereto. The server repository 508 cancheck to see if the usage rights 504 specify that the server repository508 can access the item 502. If the usage rights 504 do not permit theserver repository 508 to access the item 502, the server repository 508can refuse access or terminate the session. If, however, the serverrepository 508 can have access to the item 502, the server repository508 can perform authorized actions requested by the client repository506 in accordance with server usage rights 510.

[0087] In an exemplary embodiment, if the usage rights 504 do not permitthe server repository 508 to access the item 502, the server repository508 can initiate a session with the repository 506 requesting access andspecifying the server usage rights 510 that the server repository 506requests. In a further exemplary embodiment, the repository 506 caninitiate such a session. If the client repository 506 agrees to suchaccess, then access can be granted.

[0088] In a exemplary embodiment, the determination as to whether thereis agreement on access can be on the basis of the rights and conditionsspecified by the server repository 508 and not prohibited by therepository 506, plus the rights and conditions specified by therepository 506 and not prohibited by the server repository 508, combinedto form the rights and conditions of an agreement. In further exemplaryembodiments, however, other rules can be employed. One or more of theclient repository 506 and the server repository 508 can perform thefunction of determining if there is a agreement or both repositories cando so and compare results. In an exemplary embodiment, the client 506 orserver 508 repository can initiate a request and, thus, be a requestingrepository. In an exemplary embodiment, a particular usage right,request or repository need not specify the rights and conditions.

[0089] In an exemplary embodiment, after performing the requestedaction, the server repository 508 can provide feedback to the repository506 based on the execution of the requested action. In an exemplaryembodiment, such feedback can include the result of a requested actionor an acknowledgement of receipt of the request.

[0090] In an exemplary embodiment, the rights and conditions forcomparison can be generated in any suitable manner. For example, theusage rights associated with digital works or other items and one ormore repositories can be employed. In a further exemplary embodiment,however, usage rights need not be employed. In an exemplary embodiment,usage rights associated with an item can be compared with rights andconditions specified in a request from a requesting repository.

[0091] In an exemplary embodiment, a client repository, in aclient-server model, can be configured to create and associate usagerights to the items, such as digital works. By contrast, typical clientside repositories simply consume content distributed by a serverrepository and typically are not involved in the creating of usagerights. In an exemplary embodiment, a provider of items or anotherspecified party can specify the conditions for access to the items and auser wishing to obtain a property right in such items has to satisfysuch conditions. The exemplary embodiments work equally well, regardlessof the direction or order in which information moves. For example, auser can supply conditions to the supplier and the supplier has tosatisfy such conditions to make a sale. The exemplary embodiments, thus,provide the ability to create rights associated with a clientrepository.

[0092] The exemplary embodiments are applicable in a scenario where tenlaw firms team up as a consortium to bring a suit and split profits,such as fee awards, and the like. For example, the law firms may desirethat the law firms provide documentary evidence and other informationand share the cost of maintaining such information. The law firms maywant to maintain the information in a central repository, such as thecentral repository 706. Such a consortium, thus, needs to getinformation in and out of the central repository. The consortium maywant to ensure that the information deposited or put into the repositorymeets certain conditions, such as being deposited by an authorizedperson, being in an agreed upon format, such as an Adobe PDF format,being tagged with authorized meta data for searching, being of not toomany bytes, being scanned for viruses by appropriate software, such asSymantec virus software, and the like. The law firm consortium also canrequire that the depositor pay $1 towards expenses for each documentdeposited.

[0093] In an exemplary embodiment, the law firm consortium can have alist or class, which includes depositors that pay $1 per deposit or perperiod of time, called Class A. There also can be a second class, calledClass B, in which the depositors pay $2.50 per deposit, and more classesC, . . . , N, which have variable or graduated payment schemes. Further,there can be a class M1, which signifies the depositors who must pay $1per deposit, and a class M2, which signifies the depositors who must pay$2.50. Thus, depending on the usefulness of the class to the overallconsortium or based on the overall ratings or predetermined rules orcontracts, the consortium can set the payments or conditions in bothdirections for the different classes.

[0094] In an exemplary embodiment, the directions or conditions can bechanged based on the dynamic conditions, such as based on the interestrate, for example, as further described in commonly assigned,co-pending, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/867,745 of Tadayon etal., entitled “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DYNAMICALLY ASSIGNING USAGERIGHTS TO DIGITAL WORKS,” filed May 31, 2001, the entire disclosure ofwhich is hereby incorporated by reference herein. Advantageously, theexemplary embodiments can be used to implement the above-notedinvention.

[0095] In the exemplary embodiments related to the law firm, the usagerights can be assigned to a central repository to tell the centralrepository what to do when presented with an item for deposit. In afurther exemplary embodiment, in combination with the dynamic rights anddynamic conditions, the user can influence the outcome based onpreferences of the user, for example, via a user interface, to changethe relative weight of the dynamic conditions as time passes.

[0096] In an exemplary embodiment, a law firm wishing to depositinformation can prepare the item to be deposited, including content,such as the transcript of a deposition, a rights label 132, and aprotected item ticket 134. The license server 140 can check to determinethat the conditions established by the consortium for deposit have beenfulfilled and, if so, can permit deposit of the information into thecentral repository. The $1 deposit fee, for example, can be collected byway of the clearinghouse 160, can be deducted from a deposit account orcan be accounted for by some other means.

[0097] In an exemplary embodiment, if the corresponding conditions fordeposit are not met, authorization to deposit can be denied. In afurther exemplary embodiment, however, if the conditions are not met,authorization to deposit can be denied, but the corresponding item canbe deposited in a temporary storage, which can be kept for a fixed orindefinite period of time during which if the conditions are met, thenthe item can be transferred to a main or central repository for deposit.

[0098] In an exemplary embodiment, information can move from manysources to a central source, such as the case where the Universitycollects research materials. Any suitable right and condition that aprovider can specify as the terms under which the provider will give theUniversity information can equally be specified by the University as therights and conditions applicable to an agreement to receive theinformation. This concept can be referred to as specifying theconditions of the ability to provide or can be thought of as a right tobe free from having something supplied unless it is supplied on theterms agreed for receipt. Thus, the law firm consortium and theUniversity have established the rules on which they agree to receiveinformation, and which can be implemented with the exemplary DigitalRights Management systems of FIGS. 1, and 5-7 configured to enforce suchrules.

[0099] The exemplary embodiments, thus, are applicable to the supplyingof digital content to law firms, Universities, and the like, but alsocan be applied to the supplying of any suitable items to any othersuitable entity. In an exemplary embodiment, the thing being suppliedcan include the item tickets 134. In a further exemplary embodiment, thesupplier can be configured to meet the rules established by therecipient, such as a customer, and which can be implemented via theexemplary system Digital Rights Management system of FIGS. 1, and 5-7.

[0100] Advantageously, the exemplary embodiments can be useful forscientific paper deposits for journal or conference presentations. Forexample, a journal or conference can have one or more editors and/orassociate editors. Accordingly, there may be multiple steps of reviewand a hierarchy of authorities for review and editing between editorsand reviewers, and which, advantageously, can be specified with anappropriate rights expression. The depositor can specify, via a suitablerights expression, usage rights, conditions, privileges, assignmentrights, voting, vetoing power, editing power, security level, abilityfor viewing internal comments or hiding comments, integrating comments,using different size keys for encryption, revoking powers, control ondirection of flow of information, and the like. The exemplaryembodiments, thus, also can be applied to newspaper editors andjournalists that work occasionally or on a full-time basis for anewspaper, and which have different levels of security, access,modification or editing privileges.

[0101] The exemplary embodiments are applicable to receipt of e-mail.For example, a recipient of e-mail can specify in a suitable rightsexpression that e-mail will not be received unless the e-mail meetscertain conditions. In an exemplary embodiment, the recipient canspecify that e-mail cannot be more than 200 characters in length or onekilobyte in size or cannot have an attachment or cannot be from a senderin the @name.net domain. In an exemplary embodiment, a rights expressioncan be used to specify that e-mail cannot be an item failing to meet theabove criteria, unless the sender has permission to deviate from thenoted rules. In an exemplary embodiment, the recipient can specify thatcertain parameters must be present, such as that the e-mail must be lessthan one kilobyte, but that the other restrictions can avoided by aperson who has been given such permission.

[0102] In an exemplary embodiment, voting over the Internet can beenabled via corresponding rights expressions. For example, a state canelect to employ the technology of Internet voting in lieu of voting inperson on election day or sending in a paper absentee ballot. There is aneed to ensure that only registered voters vote and that they cast votesin the proper voting district, which can be specified in a correspondingrights expression. The voters can access the election board site to voteonly with permission and only to vote in the elections to which they areentitled to vote, which can be specified in the corresponding rightsexpression. The right of a voter to provide a vote to the electionsboard can be subject to the fulfilling of conditions established by theelections board, as specified in the corresponding rights expression.

[0103] In a further exemplary embodiment, rights expressions can be usedto specify that a voter can personally be present at any of a number ofsuitable designated places, and once there, present a displayable orprintable coupon on which information necessary to ensure the voter isentitled to vote in that particular election, and that the coupon can beused only once. In an exemplary embodiment, such a coupon can bepresented at an un-manned kiosk and there can be employed securitymeasures, such as a personal identification numbers (PINs), biometrics,and the like, to ensure the presenter is the voter entitled to cast avote. In a further exemplary embodiment, such a coupon can be of anelectronic form and reside on a transportable device, and the like.

[0104] In an exemplary embodiment, if the voter is not authorized, thekiosk can behave as if everything is okay, and meanwhile, discard thevote and notify authorities of the discrepancy or of hacking attempts,physical damage, forced entry, and the like, using the biometrics as away of identifying the unauthorized party. The exemplary embodiments,however, can be applied to any suitable kind of a situation where thereis an unauthorized attempt and can be employed as a security measure.

[0105] In an exemplary embodiment, the server repository 508 and theclient repository 506 can create and associate usage rights with theitems 502, such as digital works or other items. Thus, the exemplarysystem 500 can be used to implement a partial satisfaction of conditionsthat can result in a property right or other result, which can be thesame or different when compared to full satisfaction of the conditions.For example, when the server repository 508 checks to see if the serverrepository 508 has the rights to access the item 502, such checking canbe done against the server usage rights 510 associated with the serverrepository 508. The server usage rights 510 can be used to specify theconditions under which the server repository 508 agrees to accept theitem 502 from the client repository 506. Thus, the server repository 508can be given access to the item 502, if the usage rights 504 provided bythe client repository 506 authorize access and the usage rights 510associated with the server repository 508 also permit the serverrepository 508 to have access to the item 502.

[0106] In an exemplary embodiment, such conditions can be dynamicconditions and the state variables can be used track such potentiallydynamic state conditions. The state variables can include variableshaving values that represent the status of an item, usage rights,license or other dynamic conditions. In an exemplary embodiment, thevalues of the state variables can be used in a condition.

[0107] Although the exemplary system 500 of FIG. 5 is described in termsof the client device repository 506 and the server device repository508, in a further exemplary embodiment, the roles of the repositoriescan be reversed and either repository can operate in both a clientand/or server mode. Thus, the storage of usage rights or items ordigital works, the session initiation, the uploading and checking of theusage rights and the other functions, for example, can be performed byany suitable repository including another or any suitable number ofother repositories.

[0108] In an exemplary embodiment, a user working with a personalcomputer (PC), such as the client repository 506, can create an item502, such as word processing document. The user may want to convert theword processing document 502 into a document in another format, such asthe Adobe PDF format, but the PC of the user may lack the software toperform such a conversion. In an exemplary embodiment, a publiclyavailable server repository 508, however, can be configured to provide aservice for converting from a word processing format to another format.Such a service can be performed on the condition that the user pays afee of $1, for example, as specified in the server usage rights 510.

[0109] The user at the client repository 506 then can create andassociates with the word processing document 502 the usage rights 504permitting only the designated server repository 508 to access the wordprocessing document 502 and for the purpose of converting the wordprocessing document 502 to the other format. The server repository 508then can access the word processing document 502 and the associatedusage rights 504. The server repository 508 then can check to see if theserver repository 508 has the necessary rights to access the wordprocessing document 502.

[0110] After determining from the usage rights 504 that the serverrepository 508 does have such a right, the server repository 508 canproceed to convert the word processing document 502 into a document inthe other format. The server repository 508 then can associate the usagerights 510 with the converted document, which allows the user fullaccess to the converted document on the condition that the user pays the$1 fee.

[0111] In a further exemplary embodiment, prior to conversion of theword processing document 502 into the other format, the serverrepository 508 can require payment of the $1. Such a requirement can beassociated with the server repository 508 via the usage rights 510 andthe server repository 508 can check the conditions under which theserver repository 508 is permitted to accept the word processingdocument 502 from the client repository 506 for the purpose ofperforming the conversion. The server repository 508 then can determinethat the payment of $1 is required and the server repository 508 canperform the conversion to the other format if the $1 is paid.

[0112] In an exemplary embodiment, multiple repositories each can beused to assign usage rights to a particular item or just one repositorycan assign usage rights to an item on multiple occasions. The assigningrepositories can be controlled by one or more entities or stakeholders.The usage rights can be cumulative. For example, in the case of adigital work in the form of a movie file, music file, and the like,initially a studio can create a usage right, for example, that permitsviewing of the movie file five times within a thirty day period. Acustomer then can obtain the movie file with the associated usage right.Twenty-nine days later, the studio can decide to offer the customer anew deal and permit the customer unlimited viewing of the movie file forone year.

[0113] Accordingly, a transaction using any suitable methods, such as atransaction through an Internet site, and the like, can be performedbetween the studio and the customer and the movie possessed by thecustomer can have two usage rights associated therewith and the customercan exercise either one of the usage rights. In an exemplary embodiment,the first usage right can effectively be a subset of the second usageright, so effectively the second usage right can define the rights thatthe customer has with respect to the movie file.

[0114] In further exemplary embodiments, however, plural usage rightsneed not be subsets of each other. For example, the first usage rightthe customer obtained can be for five views within an unlimited periodof time. If in the first twenty-nine days the customer uses two of thosefive views, the customer can then start using the right for theunlimited views for the next year, and, when that right has lapsed, thecustomer can still have three views left on the first usage right.

[0115] In an exemplary embodiment, the studio can specify that as acondition of the customer receiving the second usage right, the customermust give up the first usage right. In a further exemplary embodiment,the first usage right or an intervening usage right can be used tospecify that no other usage rights can be associated with an item orthat no more usage rights can be so assigned unless certain conditionsare met.

[0116]FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary Digital Rights Management system600 in which plural repositories associate plural usage rights with anitem. In FIG. 6, a repository 602 creates usage right 604 and associatesthe usage right 604 with an item 602, such a digital work or other item.A repository 606 then can create two usage rights 608 and 610 andassociate the usage rights 608 and 610 with the item 612. The usageright 608 and the usage right 610 can be generated at the same time orat different times. In an exemplary embodiment, one of the usage rights608 or 610 can be a subset of the other the usage rights 608 or 610 orthe usage rights 608 and 610 can each include usage right informationthat is different from the other or from the usage right 604.

[0117] In an exemplary embodiment relating to the access of the item 612in the form of a movie file, music file, and the like, the repository606 can be controlled by the movie studio and the usage right 608 canpermit the movie file 612, to be viewed five times within thirty days.The usage right 610 can be subsequently issued by the studio permittingunlimited viewing for a year. In an exemplary embodiment, the studio cancreate a business arrangement with a distributor giving the distributor,for example, via the exemplary meta-rights, the right to distribute themovies of the studio, including the right to provide usage rights topossessors of the movie file 612. In an exemplary embodiment, thedistributor can maintain control of the repository 602.

[0118] After more than a year after the customer obtained the usageright 604 and the customer has consumed all rights under usage right608, the customer learns that the distributor is offering to provideusage rights permitting the movie file 612 to be viewed an unlimitednumber of times on the condition of payment of $2. The customer then caninitiate a transaction with the repository 602, pay the $2 fee andobtain the usage rights 604, which are associated with the movie file612. Thus, the movie file 612 can have the usage rights 604, 608, and610 associated therewith, wherein rights given by two of the usagerights have expired. In a further exemplary embodiment, however, zero ormore of the usage rights 604, 608, and 610 can be active at the sametime.

[0119] In an exemplary embodiment, a user, such as a customer, can bepermitted to exercise whichever of plural usage rights the userpossesses and that the user chooses to exercise. Advantageously, such aliberal approach can be particularly suited for business to consumersituations. For example, a consumer having two item tickets permittingrental of a car at two prices can choose the lowest price or the leastrestrictive item ticket. In an exemplary embodiment, a customer whopossesses a copy of a song file, a movie file, and the like, can choosethe right to play the file for free instead of the right to play thefile for a fee. In an exemplary embodiment, any suitable systems andmethods can be employed to automatically select the best usage right orthe user can manually, for example, through human intervention, and thelike, select the desired right or the user can specify rules orpreferences to enable the system to automatically make decisions for therights selection based on such rules or preferences.

[0120] In a further exemplary embodiment, a restrictive system can beprovided that can typically be employed in business, government or otherenterprise environments. In an exemplary embodiment, use of the systemcan be permitted based on the most restrictive usage right.

[0121] In a further exemplary embodiment, a permutation of the liberaland the restrictive systems can include a system where access can bebased on the most restrictive right, unless certain conditions are met.In a further exemplary embodiment, a system can be provided where accessis based on the most liberal right, unless certain conditions are notmet. In an exemplary embodiment, such a condition can include thepresentment or presence or the lack thereof of a digital ticket. In anexemplary embodiment, such conditions can be dynamic conditions trackedby state variables, and the like.

[0122] In an exemplary embodiment, the restrictive system can include asystem where plural usage rights are subsets of each other and only thelowest set usage right can be exercised. The system enforcing rightsmanagement can make the choices about which usage right applies, thus,reversing the situation where the customer decides. In an exemplaryembodiment, such a choice can involve human intervention, rules or acombination thereof, wherein usage rights associated with a repositoryaccording to the exemplary embodiments can be employed. In an exemplaryembodiment, where there are plural usage rights and/or conditions andsome are in conflict with others, then the result can be an agreement,such as access to a work or agreement on a purchase and sale, on thebasis of the rights that match up.

[0123] In the exemplary embodiments, usage rights can be associated witha repository. For example, the usage rights 504 can be assigned to theitem 502, such as a digital work or other item, and the server usagerights 510 can be assigned to the server repository 508. In an exemplaryembodiment, the usage rights 510 associated with the repository 508 canthen be bound to or associated with the item 502. However, suchassociation with the item 502 can be optional.

[0124] In an exemplary embodiment, the repository 508 can have one ormore usage rights 510 associated therewith. Advantageously, the usagerights 510 can be used inform the repository of what usage rights, forexample, including rights and/or conditions, can be associated with theitem 502 and such usage rights need not be the same as the usage rights510 associated with the repository 508.

[0125] In an exemplary embodiment, the server repository 508 can assignor pass along the server usage rights 510 to particular items 502, suchas digital works or other items. In an exemplary embodiment, the serverrepository 508 functions can include functions for associating usagerights with the item 502. Thus, once associated, the item 502 can haveone or more usage rights associated therewith, such as the usage rightsassigned by the repository 508 and the usage rights, if any, such as theusage rights 504 associated with the item 502 prior to the encounter ofthe item 502 with the repository. Such an assignment of the usage rightscan be done by any suitable method. In an exemplary embodiment, theusage rights associated with a repository then can be bound to an item,just as with usage rights previously associated with such an item.

[0126] Advantageously, the server usage rights 510 associated with therepository 508 can be used to enable the server repository 508 to knowwhat to do when the server repository 508 encounters the item 502. In anexemplary embodiment, the server usage rights 510 associated with theserver repository 508 can be used tell the server repository 508 whatthe server repository 508 can and cannot do. In an exemplary embodiment,such usage rights need not become permanently associated with the item502.

[0127] In an exemplary embodiment, the conjunction of the usage rights504 associated with the item 502 and the usage rights 510 associatedwith the repository 508 can be transitory, for example, existing longenough to enable an analysis of the various types of usage rights sothat a decision can be made about what function to perform. The usagerights 510 associated with the repository 508 can be used to send theitem 502 or information about the item 502 or the usage rights 504associated with the item 502 to another location, such as a network,node, router, other repository, and the like, where a decision can bemade or where the item 502 can be re-routed.

[0128] In a further exemplary embodiment, the item 502 need not be sentto such a location, but rather reference can be made to the location fora determination, in which case information about the item 502 or theassociated usage rights 504 thereof can be sent. Similarly, the usagerights associated with the item 503 can be used to send the item 502 orsuch other information to another such location. In a further exemplaryembodiment, usage rights can be used to specify that the item 502 is notto be sent to a location or reference made to such location or can go nofurther than a specified location.

[0129] In an exemplary embodiment, the usage rights 510 associated withthe repository 508 can be used to inform the repository 508 that therepository 508 can render any suitable item 502, such as a digital workother item presented to the repository 508. In a further exemplaryembodiment, the usage rights associated 510 with the repository 508 canbe used to specify that the repository 508 can perform any suitableaction requested of the repository 508, for example, except rendering.In a further exemplary embodiment, the usage rights 510 can be used tospecify that the repository 508 can do any suitable action requested ofthe repository 508, including rendering, except that the repository 508is restricted from rendering certain types of files, such as JointPhotographic Experts Group (JPEG) files, and the like.

[0130] Thus, according to the exemplary embodiments, the usage rights510 can be configured to be permissive, for example, allowing everythingor almost everything or can be restrictive, for example, allowingrendering of only JPEG files. The salient point is that the usage rights510 can pertain to the repository 508, while other usage rights, such asthe usage rights 504, can pertain to the item 502. Thus, the combinationof the usage rights 504, if any, pertaining to the item 502, and theusage rights 510, if any, pertaining to the repository 508, can be usedto determine what is permitted. The exemplary embodiments thus includethe exemplary systems and methods described herein, wherein repositoriescan associate, pass on, and the like, usage rights to an item.

[0131] In an exemplary embodiment, the actions of the repository can beapplied to particular digital works or items or to groups or classes ofsuch digital works or items. In an exemplary embodiment, usage rightscan be used to specify that a repository can perform an operationrequested, for example, based on certain conditions being met. In anexemplary embodiment, such conditions can be dynamic and can be based onstate variables, and the like. For example, a repository can bepermitted to perform an operation with respect to an item, if a digitalticket is present corresponding to such an item. In an exemplaryembodiment, the repository can be informed by the usage rightsassociated therewith to perform an action, for example, with respect toan item which bears a certain watermark or is signed in a certain way orotherwise is identifiable in some way. Such identification can be basedon factors, such as what the item is, such a video file, music file, andthe like, where the item is from, such as from a trusted source or anyother suitable factor.

[0132] In an exemplary embodiment, association of usage rights to arepository can be used to determine the actions that can be performedwith respect to an item. In an exemplary embodiment, any suitable itemcan be presented to a repository and the repository can determine if itcan perform the requested action with respect to that item.

[0133] Thus, according to an exemplary embodiment, the thing that isbeing managed and controlled is the repository. The repository usagerights can be controlling over usage rights associated with an item. Forexample, if the usage right associated with an item specifies an actionthat is not permitted, while the usage right associated with arepository provides that such an action is permitted, then the resultcan be that the repository does perform such an action. Thus, accordingto an exemplary embodiment, supremacy of the repository usage rights canbe a default mode. In further exemplary embodiments, however, therepository usage rights can yield to the item usage rights or therepository usage rights can yield to the item usage rights subject tocertain conditions specified in usage rights or on certain occasionsspecified in usage rights.

[0134] In a further exemplary embodiment, the thing that is beingmanaged and controlled is an item. In an exemplary embodiment, the usageright associated with such an item can specify that an operation can beperformed, for example, by a certain repository or repositories. In anexemplary embodiment, the usage right can be used to grant plural rightsand specify that some subset of such rights can be performed by certainrepositories or that all rights must be performed by certain specifiedrepositories. This concept can be thought of as conditions on the rightsassociated with the item.

[0135] In an exemplary embodiment, the usage right associated with anitem need not grant any particular rights or specify any particularconditions, but rather can function to point or refer the item to arepository. In an exemplary embodiment, the usage rights of therepository can define and determine what actions are permitted withrespect to such an item. Thus, the usage rights associated with an itemcan be used to present or point the item to a specified repository orrepositories. In a further exemplary embodiment, there can be providedone or more of such pointers. In an exemplary embodiment, an item orinformation about the item can go to any of the suitable locationsallowed by such pointers or can be used to attempt to locate a placethat will permit the action requested.

[0136] In an exemplary embodiment, via appropriate usage rights, anenterprise can be configured to grant scientists of the enterprise theright to render, for example, by viewing or printing, and the like,digital documents in a central repository, such as technical resourcelibrary of the enterprise. In an exemplary embodiment, such usage rightscan be used to specify that the scientists can be given the right, forexample, to download one copy from the central repository to a personalcomputer, while not being permitted others actions to be taken, such asto transfer the downloaded document. Advantageously, a year later theenterprise can make a business decision that allowing such printing wasnot a good idea, and can specify via modified usage rights that suchprinting is no longer allowed, with such a rule being applicable todocuments previously downloaded to the personal computer of thescientist.

[0137] In an exemplary embodiment, when the scientist accesses a digitaldocument in the technical resource library, the usage rights associatedwith the document, for example, can be used to permit viewing of thedocument, printing of the document and downloading of one copy of thedocument to the personal computer of the scientist. In an exemplaryembodiment, the downloaded copy of the document can include the usageright to view and print the document associated therewith. In anexemplary embodiment, such a usage right also can be used to specifythat the print right can be exercised on an authorized renderingrepository, such as a specified printer, and the like. In a furtherexemplary embodiment, such a usage right can provide that the documentcan be printed on a group of authorized printers, such as printers on anetwork of the enterprise.

[0138] Accordingly, when the scientist presents the document to anunauthorized printer for rendering, printing is not performed becausethe scientist does not have a right to print on unauthorized printer.However, when the document is presented to an authorized printer, forexample, a printer on the network of the enterprise, the document can beprinted. In an exemplary embodiment, an attempt to access anunauthorized printer or a certain printer or in general an unauthorizedrepository or a repository so designated by usage rights or systemdesign can result in consequences, such as the item or the usage rightor both being impounded or held for machine or human intervention, and areport being made concerning the attempt. Thus, according to theexemplary embodiments, a usage right can be used to specify that acondition of exercise of a right is that an item is not presented to anunauthorized repository and, optionally, what consequence follows fromthe unauthorized presentation.

[0139] In an exemplary embodiment, the authorized printer or printerscan have usage rights associated therewith. Initially, the usage rightsassociated with the authorized printer or printers permitted theprinting of digital documents having usage rights associated therewiththat permit printing. However, when the enterprise makes the decision toprohibit printing of such documents from the technical resource library,advantageously, the enterprise can change the usage rights associatedwith the authorized printer or printers. In an exemplary embodiment,such a change can be a general change, such as prohibiting printing ofall documents or a specific change, such as prohibiting printing of adocument with certain characteristics or which is not accompanied withan appropriate authorization, such as a digital ticket, and the like.

[0140] Accordingly, when the scientist attempts to print the document,the printer can check the usage rights associated therewith and candetermine that the document presented to the printer is not allowed tobe printed. Advantageously, with the exemplary embodiments, theenterprise can successfully prevent printing of the technical documentswithout having to retrieve copies of documents, change usage rightsalready associated with documents or take other actions. In addition toprinter applications, the exemplary embodiments can be applied in ageneral way to implement various other types of other applications, forexample, involving many types of transactions and rights.

[0141] In an exemplary embodiment, a repository need not be a single setof functional specifications, and need not be or reside in a singledevice or software program. Thus, a repository can include a virtualrepository, for example, including plural computers, printers, storagedevices, faxes, processors, and the like. Such a virtual repository canbe thought of as turning multiple devices or functionalities into asingle virtual device or functionality. For example, a home network canbe configured as a single repository, can employ a distributed computingcapability and can include plural repositories connected within a trustzone. Thus, in the exemplary embodiments, a repository with usage rightscan be a repository, which can include a virtual repository. In anexemplary embodiment, when such a virtual repository has usage rightsassociated therewith, other repositories within the group including thevirtual repository can have respective usage rights or derive suchrespective usage rights from another repository, such as anotherrepository within the group, a central node of the virtual repository ora central control repository.

[0142] In an exemplary embodiment, a central control repository can beused in conjunction with various other repositories, item types,actions, and the like. In an exemplary embodiment, usage rightsassociated with an item can point or refer to such a repository and canconstitute or include a pointer. In an exemplary embodiment, the centralcontrol repository can be connected through a communications network,such as the communications network 170, to other repositories or devicescapable of performing specific functions, such printers, routers,computers, music players, e-mail servers, copying machines, storagerepositories, video players, DVD media players, and the like. In anexemplary embodiment, the central control repository can be employed asa virtual repository.

[0143]FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary Digital Rights Management system700 in which a central control repository with usage rights associatedtherewith controls functions to be performed with respect to an item. InFIG. 7, a usage right 702 associated with an item 704, such as a digitalwork or other item, can be used to point to a central control repository706. In an exemplary embodiment, the usage right 702 associated with theitem 704 can refer to the central control repository 706 as the placethat specifies what usage rights pertain to the item 704. In a furtherexemplary embodiment, the usage right 702 can be used to define usagerights pertaining to the item 704, but further specify that such rightscan be exercised only through the central control repository 706. Thereference to the central control repository 706 can be thought of as acondition on the right to exercise rights specified in the usage rights702.

[0144] In an exemplary embodiment, the central control repository 706can have usage rights 708 associated therewith that control the actions,functions, and the like, the repository 706 is permitted to perform. Inan exemplary embodiment, the usage rights 708 can be of any suitabletype, for example, including usage rights general in nature or specificin nature or therebetween. For example, a general usage right 708 caninclude disallowing printing of the item 704, such as a document, andthe like, even if the usage rights 702 associated with the item 704permit printing or not allowing the routing of the item 704, such as ane-mail, and the like, to an e-mail server 718, if the item 704 is largerthan one megabyte, even if usage rights associated with the item 704permit e-mailing thereof.

[0145] In an exemplary embodiment, a specific usage right 708 caninclude permitting usage rights 702 of the item 704, such as a moviefile, music file, and the like, to be upgraded to permit viewing of theitem 704, even if the right to view usage right 702 associated with theitem 704 has expired because the time allowed for viewing has expired.In the exemplary embodiments relating to the technical resource library,the usage right 708 can be used to specify that a certain identifieddocument from the technical resource library may not be printed.

[0146] In an exemplary embodiment, the central control repository 706can be configured to analyze the usage rights 708 and the usage rights702 of the item 704, for example, to determine what functions arepermitted, what action to take, and the like. In an exemplaryembodiment, if a request to perform a function or action is notpermitted, such a request can be denied. If, however, the requestedfunction or action is permitted or if some of plural requested functionsor actions are permitted, then the central control repository 706 canrout the request to repository or other device authorized to perform therequested function or action. In a further exemplary embodiment, thecentral control repository 706 can be authorized and capable ofperforming a given function, wherein the routing step need not beemployed.

[0147] Thus, according to an exemplary embodiment, if a print functionis requested, the central control repository 706 can route the requestto a printer 710 or 712. Advantageously, the request can be routed toany suitable printer requested. However, if either the usage right 702or 708 specify printing on a designated printer or printers, forexample, such as the printer 710, then the request can be routed to theauthorized printer or printers.

[0148] In a further exemplary embodiment, if both printed copy and adigital copy are requested, the request can be routed to the printer 710and a repository 716 capable of performing the function of making adigital copy. In an exemplary embodiment, an attempt to exercise anunauthorized right can result in a consequence, such as the item or ausage right or both, being impounded or held for machine or humanintervention or a report being made concerning the attempt or otherconsequence. Thus, a usage right can be used to specify that a conditionof exercise of the right is that an unauthorized action is not attemptedand, optionally, what consequence follows from the unauthorized attempt

[0149] In an exemplary embodiment, one or more of the repositories710-720 can have usage rights (not shown) associated therewith. In anexemplary embodiment, there can be as many layers as a system designerdesires to implement. For example, the e-mail server 718 can haveassociated therewith usage rights that are specific to the e-mail server718 and which define what the e-mail server 718 can and cannot do.

[0150] In an exemplary embodiment, for example, the usage rightsassociated with the e-mail server 718 can cause the e-mail server 718 tonot process the item 704, even though the central control repository 706and the usage rights 702 associated with and the item 704 do notprohibit such processing. For example, the repository performing copyfunctions 716 via suitable usage rights associated therewith can beconfigured to refuse to make a copy of the item 704 or impose acondition on making such a copy, for example, such as payment of a $1fee, notwithstanding a determination by the central control repository706 based on analyzing the usage rights 702 and 708 that a copy can bemade. In further exemplary embodiments, one or more of the repositories710-720 can be configured as a virtual repository.

[0151] In an exemplary embodiment, if usage rights associated with onerepository, for example, the copier repository 716, and the usage rightsassociated with another repository, for example, usage rights 708associated with central control repository 706, are in conflict or canresult in conflicting transactions or do not deal consistently with thesame transaction, for example, where the copy repository 716 disallowsprinting, but the central control repository usage rights 708 does notdisallow printing, but also does not expressly allow printing, adecision resolving the primacy of the respective usage rights can bemade, for example, based on one or more rules.

[0152] In an exemplary embodiment, a repository can perform a function,for example, if a repository or an item is configured in a particularway. For example, an artist may want to permit printing of black andwhite versions of the item 704, such as a digital work of the artist,for example, including art, but prohibit printing color versions. Theusage rights 702 associated with the item 704 can provide that the item704 can be printed only on a black and white printer. Accordingly, in anexemplary embodiment, a condition can be used to ensure, for example,that the printer 712 be configured in a certain way, such as beingconfigured to only print the item 704 in a gray scale format. Forexample, such a condition can specify that there must be detected thepresence of a black only print cartridge in the printer 712. In anexemplary embodiment, the cartridge can be identified in any suitablemanner, for example, including the identification of the presence of ahardware or firmware element, such as via CRUM technology foridentifying a print cartridge.

[0153] In an exemplary embodiment, such a condition can be used tospecify that the item 704 can be printed, if a particular type of printcartridge, such as a print cartridge of a specific manufacturer, ispresent in the print repository 712. In an exemplary embodiment, thecondition specifying the presence of the specific print cartridge can beassociated via corresponding usage rights with one or more of the item704, the printer repository 712 or the central control repository 706.In a further exemplary embodiment, the condition can be used specifythat the printing is allowed only with authorization, such as bypresenting a digital ticket, and the like. The exemplary embodiments,advantageously, can be applied to the configuration of any suitablerepository or sub-repositories, such as a repository dependant in someway on another repository.

[0154] In an exemplary embodiment, the item 704 need not have usagerights associated therewith, wherein the analysis of usage rights by thecentral control repository 706 can be of the usage rights 708 associatedtherewith. In the exemplary embodiments, the central control repository706 or one or more of the other repositories 710-720 can be configuredto examine and analyze other attributes about the item 704, such as metadata, the type of file, the size of the file, the presence or absence ofan appropriate digital ticket, watermark or security indicator, theabsence of tampering or any other suitable characteristics. One or moreof such characteristics can be used as part of the process to determinewhich of the repositories 706 and 710-720 can process the item 704. Forexample, if a determined characteristic of the item 704, such as a musicfile, movie file, and the like, is that the item 704 is over onemegabyte in size, the determination may be to not e-mail the item 704,notwithstanding that e-mailing was requested by a user.

[0155] In an exemplary embodiment, when usage rights are associated withrepositories, usage rights need not be associated with an item, such asa digital work or other item. For example, the item can have a pointeror reference to a place to go to find what can be done with the item. Inan exemplary embodiment, such a place can be a repository, which canhave usage rights associated therewith. In a further exemplaryembodiment, the repository to which the item can be pointed can be anauthorized place to go to have usage rights assigned to the item or aplace to go to be re-routed to another repository.

[0156] Thus, according to the exemplary embodiments, the thing beingbound or associated to an item, such as a digital work or other item,can be a way, such as by employing a pointer, to locate a repositoryauthorized to determine what can be done with the item. Advantageously,the exemplary embodiments can be employed in resource-constrainedenvironments, because a reference can consume less space than theinformation expressing the corresponding usage rights.

[0157] In an exemplary embodiment, a repository can be configured toanalyze any suitable item presented to the repository and determine,based on usage rights associated with the repository, characteristics ofthe item or what functions can be performed with respect to the item.Thus, advantageously, an item need not have a pointer associated withthe item to direct the item to a particular repository in order for arepository to analyze the item and perform functions or actions.Accordingly, with the exemplary embodiments, a repository can beconfigured perform an analysis and functions or actions on any suitableitem presented to the repository or on any suitable item presented froman authorized source, for example, such as from the central controlrepository 706, or which is otherwise identified as being an item whichthe repository is authorized to analyze or process.

[0158] Advantageously, the processing of items not having usage rightsassociated therewith through repositories having usage rights associatedtherewith can be utilized in various types of business applications, butcan be particularly useful within an enterprise or any other suitablekind of a closed environment. For example, an enterprise including agovernment department can include an internal network connecting tostationary or transportable client devices, such as laptop computers,PDAs, and the like. In an exemplary embodiment, usage rights can beassociated with appropriate repositories, such as servers, and the like,for example, including the central control repository 706. Thus, anysuitable item moving off of a client device can pass to or through arepository having usage rights associated therewith and which canexamine the item and make determinations concerning the item. In anexemplary embodiment, such a determination can include assigning usagerights to the item, wherein such usage rights can include stateinformation or conditions including dynamic conditions.

[0159] In an exemplary embodiment, a client device can be configured soas to not communicate external to the device, for example, external tothe bard drive of the device, except through the network of theenterprise or through authorized repositories or devices. For example,in a situation where the stakeholder is a government, a law can beconfigured to require that all or certain items, such as digital trafficmoving into and/or out of a country, government department or otherenvironment go through one or more authorized repositories.Advantageously, the repositories can be configured to examine such itemsand analyze and process such items in accordance with usage rightsassociated with such repositories.

[0160] In a further exemplary embodiment, the repositories can beconfigured to examine any suitable characteristics of an item, such as amedia type, content, security type, size, watermarking, origin, author,and the like. If the item also has usage rights associated therewith,such analysis can include comparing usage rights associated with theitem to those associated with the repository. Accordingly, the exemplarysystems can be configured for an entity, such as the government, and thelike, which can decide that usage rights or certain usage rightsassociated with an item can or will be disregarded and items will beprocessed in accordance with usage rights associated with a repository,notwithstanding usage rights associated with the item.

[0161] In an exemplary embodiment, if an item is encrypted or otherwiseprotected in some fashion, the exemplary systems can be programmed orconfigured to refuse to process such an item. Advantageously, items withusage rights not authorized by a stakeholder need not be processed, forexample, need not leave or enter the country or other environment,unless such usage rights can be overridden.

[0162] The exemplary embodiments are applicable to entities other thangovernments, such as business or personal enterprises. For example, thestakeholder can be a parent controlling access to information enteringor leaving the home, for example, utilizing a network, such as wirelessnetwork, a WiFi network, a home network, and the like, and a repositorythrough which traffic into or out of the home can be processed. In anexemplary embodiment, such control and processing can be for anysuitable reason, such as for audit or census or censorship or control orsecurity reasons.

[0163] In an exemplary embodiment, a function performed by a repositorywith respect to usage rights can include applying usage rights to anitem, such as a digital work or other item. Thus, according to theexemplary embodiments, any suitable items entering and/or leaving acountry or other environment can have usage rights associated therewithby a repository, such as an authorized repository, with the result thatthe item then can be used inside or outside the country or otherenvironment, in accordance with the usage rights associated therewith bythe repository. In an exemplary embodiment, the enforcement of suchusage rights can be performed, for example, as disclosed in thecommonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,530,235, No. 5,629,980, No. 5,634,012,No. 5,638,443, No. 5,715,403, No. 6,233,684, and No. 6,236,971,incorporated by reference herein.

[0164] In a further exemplary embodiment, it is not necessary that aclient device present an item, for example, to a network of anenterprise, and the like, for the item to be analyzed or operationsperformed with respect to the item, such as assignment of usage rightsto the item. Thus, in an exemplary embodiment, repositories, such asauthorized repositories, connected to a network or other environment ofan enterprise or other stakeholder can be configured to access client orother devices and for items found residing therein, analyze the items,make decisions or take actions concerning such items.

[0165] Accordingly, in the exemplary embodiments relating to anenterprise with scientists who have accessed items, such as digitalworks or other items, from a technical resource library and haveretained a copy on personal computers thereof, advantageously, can befurther extended. For example, a networked repository, such as thecentral control repository 706, can be configured access a clientdevice, such as the personal computer of the scientist, locate andaccess the appropriate digital work or other item, such as a documentfrom the technical resource library, and change the usage rightsassociated with the item, for example, including associating a new usageright such that the item can no longer be printed, advantageously,allowing print rights previously granted to be rescinded.

[0166]FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary repository 800 that can beemployed in the exemplary systems of FIGS. 1 and 5-7. In FIG. 8, theexemplary repository 800 can include a processor module configured toprocess, such as interpret, a rights expression 808 in the form of ausage right associated with the repository 800, for example, specifyinga manner of use of an item 812, a condition of use of the item 812, andthe like, at the repository 800.

[0167] The exemplary repository 800, for example, also can include adetermination module 804. The determination module 804 can be configuredto determine, based on the rights expression 808 and/or one or morerules, what action or actions 816 the repository 800 can take when therepository 800 processes the item 812 or the repository 800 receives arequest 814 for the item 812.

[0168] The exemplary repository 800, for example, also can include acomparison module 806. The comparison module 806 can be configured tocompare a rights expression 810 associated with the item 812 and, forexample, specifying a manner of use, a condition of use, and the like,of the item 812, with the rights expression 808 for the determinationmodule 804 to determine the action or actions 816.

[0169] In an exemplary embodiment, a rights expression in the form of amaster license, for example, can include master usage rights and can bestored in one or more repositories. The master license can include usagerights pertaining to an item, such as a digital work or other item. Auser, customer, consumer, distributor, and the like, of an item can havea reference or pointer that can be associated with the master license.

[0170] In an exemplary embodiment, many persons can hold a pointer orreference associated with a common master license, but in furtherexemplary embodiments a single person can hold such a reference orpointer. In further exemplary embodiments, however, there can be morethan one copy of a master license, for example, residing on serverslocated on different Local Area Networks (LANs) or devices, such asservers located in various geographies. In an exemplary embodiment, themultiple licenses can be similar or different. For example, it can bedesired that a master license applies to the whole world, except forFrance, and that a variant of such as master license applies to France.In an exemplary embodiment, an appropriate reference or pointer forclients or persons to be associated with the France variant of themaster license can be provided.

[0171] In an exemplary embodiment, a master license can include all theusage rights and conditions pertaining to an item, wherein,advantageously, a user need only possess a reference or pointer to sucha master license. Advantageously, the exemplary embodiments can beuseful in resource constrained environments, because a reference orpointer can consume less space than the information expressed in themaster license. In an exemplary embodiment, the master license canspecify less than all usage rights and conditions. For example, somerights and conditions can be specified in separate usage rightsincluding, for example, usage rights specific to each instance of anitem.

[0172] In an exemplary embodiment, the reference or pointer can employany suitable mode of communications, such as a hyperlink, an offlinemode of communication, such as coupling two hardware devices orcommunication within a single device. For example, a repositoryincluding a master license associated with a movie can be on a samecomputer hard drive as the repository in which the movie is stored.There can be a pointer or reference establishing a correspondencebetween usage rights specified in the master license and the movie, eventhough the usage rights and the movie are on the same device.

[0173] In an exemplary embodiment, the master license can specify theusage rights and conditions that are to be associated with an item,wherein a reference or pointer can point to the master license. In anexemplary embodiment, when a possessor of an item, such as a digitalwork or other item, desires to access the item, such as to render theitem, copy the item or move the item to another repository, the masterlicense can be accessed. The purpose of the access can be to determinethat the right to perform the proposed transaction, such as to renderthe item or copy the item, can be associated with the item and to checkand fulfill any suitable conditions, such as to payment of a fee, andthe like.

[0174] In an exemplary embodiment, such a check can be performed in eachinstance of attempted use, for example, to implement dynamic changes. Infurther exemplary embodiments, however, such a check can be performed atvarious times, frequencies, and the like. For example, every time a userwishes to render or take an action, such as copy or move, with respectto an item, the master license can be checked for a current state of theusage rights therein, for example, by interpreting, and the like, themaster license. In an exemplary embodiment, if the master license can bedetermined to have changed, the master license can be interpreteddifferently than when the master license was last referenced.Accordingly, an action that was permitted yesterday may not be permittedtoday or a requested action denied yesterday may be permitted today. Inan exemplary embodiment, the master license can be changed at anysuitable time.

[0175] In an exemplary embodiment, a master license can be held by anissuer thereof or by some authority other than the issuer. For example,a studio owning a movie can employ an agent who can administer themaster license for the studio. In an exemplary embodiment, the studiocan maintain legal control of the master license, even thought the agentcan hold or maintain physical control of the master license. In anexemplary embodiment, the studio or an agent thereof can change themaster license as necessary. In a further exemplary embodiment, however,a master license also can be held outside of the control of the issuerof the master license, for example, under the control of a governmentauthority or entity.

[0176] In an exemplary embodiment, a digital ticket that points to areference or pointer that in turn points to a license, including amaster license, can be employed. For example, a consumer can hold adigital ticket issued by a rights holder or other stakeholder, such asissued by a content owner as a rights holder or a government as astakeholder, wherein the digital ticket includes a pointer to areference pointer. In an exemplary embodiment, the reference pointer canbe hosted, controlled, and the like, by the rights holder, which caninclude the item or content owner or another stakeholder.

[0177] In a further exemplary embodiment, however, a digital ticket neednot be employed. For example, a pointer can be associated with an item,such as a digital work or other item, and included as part of a licenseincluding the usage rights associated with the item. As with theexemplary digital ticket embodiment, such a pointer can point to areference pointer, which in turn points to the actual license, forexample, including a master license. Thus, in an exemplary embodiment, auser, consumer, distributor, and the like, of an item, can hold a usageright, which is or can include a pointer to a reference pointer. Thereference pointer can be hosted, controlled, and the like, by a rightsholder, which can include a content owner or another stakeholder.

[0178] Thus, according to the exemplary embodiments, a reference pointercan be configured to point to an actual usage right, advantageously,providing flexibility for implementing changes in usage rights. Forexample, a change can be implemented by merely changing the actual usageright being pointed to or can be implemented by having the referencepointer change the place, for example, the usage right, to which thereference pointer is pointing. Because the change of the pointer to theusage right occurs at the reference pointer, advantageously, the pointerassociated with a digital ticket or a license need not be changed.

[0179] In an exemplary embodiment, the person issuing a digital ticket,a license, a usage right, and the like, need not be the same personhosting or controlling the reference pointer. For example, the issuercan be the owner of an item, such digital content, a digital work orother item, and the reference pointer can be hosted or controlled byanother stakeholder, such as a government authority or an authoritywithin an enterprise. For example, in the exemplary embodiments relatingto scientists accessing documents from a technical resource library, ifthe information technology office of the enterprise controlled thereference pointer, such an office can implement a technology action tochange a right to make printed copies by the scientist, advantageously,avoiding a need to implement a change in a particular instance of adigital document.

[0180] In an exemplary embodiment, the license 142 can provideflexibility and can be used in various ways. For example, the license142 can be used to access a Web site, wherein, as a condition of accessto the Web site, the license 142 can include a condition that the usermust be located in a specific geographical area, for example, in theUnited States. This can be useful for localization of the Web site, forexample, in terms of language translation, customization or otheraspects at the property right, including local customs, news, culture,hobbies, local sport news, local news makers, local industry, localmerchandise or local advertisements. For example, if the user is locatedin the United States, the language can be English and American versionsof spelling and dialect can be used. In further exemplary embodiments,advertisements can be based on American taste, season or politicalclimate at that moment. Thus, the exemplary embodiments enablelocalization, increasing the appeal of the Web site, facilitatingprovisioning of appropriate property rights and generally improvingcustomer satisfaction and traffic of the Web site or the volume ofsales.

[0181] Advantageously, the exemplary embodiments enable a propertyowner, for example, to release a specific property right in the UnitedStates first and three months later in Europe or another part of theworld. This is common in movie industry, where the different releases indifferent geographical areas are restricted based on a time scheduledesigned to give maximum benefit to the owner or other recipient ofrevenue. The release dates and/or time tables can be incorporated into arights template, so that the assignment or modifications of the timetable can be easy for the content owner, and keeping track of thevarious times can be done automatically, without further humanintervention.

[0182] The exemplary embodiments are applicable Web crawlers forcollecting data from a Web site. For example, a Web master or otherauthority in control of a Web site can, as a condition of access to theWeb site, require the crawler to access or request the access aftermidnight when the Web site traffic is at a minimum, and therefore loadsare reduced. Additionally, the Web site can impose varying conditions onthe ability or right of the Web crawler to access the site, such as byspecifying that the access will time out after a certain period of time,if access is obtained during peak hours.

[0183] In an exemplary embodiment, the license 142 can be used tospecify how to gain access to a property right. For example, how a usermay distribute content or other items, such as by super-distribution,can be specified. This gives more control to the content owner, as towhere and by what method the distribution is conducted. The geographicallocation restriction can be one condition. The parameters ofsuper-distribution also can be specified by the content owner asconditions, for example, to further limit the method of distribution,such as expiration date, the number of copies, and the people forbiddento get a copy, such as unfriendly customers or known hackers.

[0184] In an exemplary embodiment, one user may want to share theirpersonal calendar with others. Access to the calendar can be the itemspecified in the item reference 134 a, which can include an access code.However, as a condition of the license 142, the user may require theaccessing party to do a specific task. For example, a condition mayrequire the user to open one specific file or share a calendar of theuser. The calendar can be used and edited by all or some of the otherpersons, who can be given the right to input, modify or edit, asexpressed in usage rights of the license 142. Some of the parties can begiven the right to view only or view and input only, with nomodification rights. The calendar can keep track of conflict ofschedules for two or more people, and automatically notify theconflicting parties or all of the parties about the conflict. Thecalendar also can highlight the unavailable days, when one or moreparties are out of town or unavailable for other reasons. The calendaralso can suggest some days or hours that the calendar is relativelyempty or for specified parties find the common acceptable dates orhours, based on the input by one or more users.

[0185] In an exemplary embodiment, a property right that can becontrolled can include access to a print shop service, wherein a policyto restrict the access of users to printing services specified by theitem ticket 134 can be employed. For example, access to the service canbe specified in the item reference 134 a and restrictions can beexpressed as usage rights and conditions of the license 142. Forexample, the user can send a large file to be printed by the print shop,for a fee. However, as a way of managing job orders, smaller files thatcan get printed sooner, for example, can have a higher priority. Thesize of the files within a predetermined time frame can be compared andordered for printing purposes. For example, a condition of license 142can be that no smaller files are queued for printing. The status ofother files queued for printing can be tracked as a state variable.However, if a job must be printed before a deadline, then the length ofthe printing process can be estimated, and the job schedule can bemodified to make the deadline. This out-of-order prioritization can besignified by a flag or a variable or set of variables/parameters, whichcan include the order of priority, the information about the deadline,and the like. In the case of the conflict of the schedules or having notenough time to satisfy all the deadlines, the jobs in a class with ahigher priority can be handled before the other jobs. Thus, the size ofa file to be printed can be significant within a specific class ofpriority.

[0186] In a further exemplary embodiment, upon payment of a fee orsatisfaction of another condition, a print job might jump the queue orcolor jobs and black and white jobs can be routed to different printersor the user can specify the priority the user desires based on the feepaid. For assignment of print jobs, priority assignment, class of printjobs, negotiating the prices and fees, and the moving of priorities,rights to customers and print jobs can be assigned, and such rights canbe expressed in the license 142.

[0187] In an exemplary embodiment, a service provider can set conditionsfor quality in the rights label 132. For example, a lower quality imagecan be purchased for a lower fee or a slower delivery can be granted fora lower fee. For example, the resolution can be set to corresponded tothe price, based on a table, a formula, a function or values on a curve.Further exemplary embodiments apply to variations other than quality,such as, speed or timing, and the variation can be based on conditionsother than the fee paid. Advantageously, such services or items can bespecified in the item reference 134 a.

[0188] Another possible property right is the authority to change or setthe time for a computer or other system. In an exemplary embodiment, thecondition can be the identification of the person as the systemadministrator. Thus, the identification can be based on the role of theindividual, which can be established by a smart card, ID, and the like.Such a role-based model makes it easier to effect a change in the rightassignment or a change in the position of the individuals.

[0189] In further exemplary embodiments, the applying of usage rights toitems can be very useful for situations in which the item provider isnot the same as the item seller, such as for airfares and car rentals,in which a travel agent or other party often sells the item. Forexample, one or more roundtrip tickets between Boston and Chicago can bepurchased from a Web site, such as an auction site, a reverse-auctionsite, airline direct sales, a travel agency, an individual having theproperty right to transfer or resell the tickets, a clearinghouse, areseller or a distributor. The destination, the location or both can bevariables. For example, an item specified in the item reference 134 a ofthe item ticket 134 can be an airline ticket from Boston to a city inthe Eastern part of the United States, a city within 2000 miles ofBoston or to a city in the continental United States. The usage rightsof the license 142 can include the right to exchange the ticket foranother ticket within the European continent provided that a condition,such a payment of a fixed or variable fee is satisfied. In furtherexemplary embodiments, the usage rights can include the right to convertthe ticket to cash, points, coupons, and the like, for purchase ofmerchandise or services from affiliated retailers. For the busy seasonsor predetermined time windows, the conditions can require an extra feefor a given property right. The predetermined times can be tracked asstate variables.

[0190] In an exemplary embodiment, the item ticket 134, for example, canbe used to specify that the user can rent a car for six days in Bostonfrom one of several car rental companies. The rental companies can havea contract with the clearinghouse 160 to recognize the item ticket 134as valid and the item reference 134 a can be used to specify the carrental. Usage rights and conditions, for example, can be used to specifymileage limits, drop off locations, car size, car manufacturer, pick-uplocations, various equipment in the car as additional features, and thelike. Accordingly, the item can include the rental of a car, forexample, for six days within the month of August, and the like, and theowner of the car need not know exactly when or where they may beexercising such a property right.

[0191] In an exemplary embodiment, inventory of extra seats, forexample, surplus tickets for movie seats, airline seats or rental cars,in which there need not be a one-to-one relationship, also can beadapted for distribution as a property right of an item with associatedusage rights. For example, a property right to a movie ticket can bepurchased from a Web site, and the property right can be exercised byredeeming the corresponding item ticket 134 at a movie theater, whichcan be configured accept the item tickets 134 and can have arelationship with the distributor Web site, for example, similar to therelationship that a credit card company has with various issuing banks,with respect to customers and card holders or similar to a morecentralized form of control, such as employed by other credit cardcompanies.

[0192] In further exemplary embodiments, there may be provided more thanone type of distributor of rights, issuing entities, contract providersor types of the item tickets 134, and each can have their own logos,terms, conditions, associations, and the like, with possible reciprocalacceptances across boundaries of associations, advantageously,maximizing the acceptance areas and ease of use for customers, forexample, similar to Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards and banks.After honoring the item tickets 134, the theater owner, for example, canaggregate the item tickets 134 each day and obtain reimbursement.

[0193] In an exemplary embodiment, tickets or seats for events withundetermined dates or specifications can be expressed as items ofproperty rights. In further exemplary embodiments, the item of theproperty right can be hotel rooms and other reserved commodities,whereby the reservations become very liquid and exchangeable bypermitting transfer of the license 142 through usage rights ormeta-rights.

[0194] In an exemplary embodiment, the clearinghouse 160 can have acontract with three car rental companies as vendors having Web servers150 a, for example, from which a user can rents a compact car for 6 daysin August and to be used in New York City. The item ticket 134 can beredeemable to thereby exercise the property right of a correspondinglicense 142 from one of the three car rental companies. The usage rightsof license 142 associated with the item ticket 134 can be used tospecify various aspects of the property right, such as six days inAugust of the current year in a specific city, the ability to auction orotherwise transfer the property right, the ability to exchange the cityfor a fee, the ability to use part of the property right to obtain cash,and the like.

[0195] Advantageously, the flexibility in trading property rights,according to the exemplary embodiments, for example, can permits variousitem to be extended into an open market for trading or exchangingproperty rights, for example, similar to the NASDAQ stock market. Insuch a market, rights can become very liquid, similar to cash, stocks,bonds, certified checks, and the like. Advantageously, such propertyrights can be traded as commodities or objects, with certainpredetermined or variable values, at the current moment or in thefuture, and the like. Accordingly, associating rights and conditionswith items, through the mechanism of the license 142 and the item ticket134, can provide a completely new dimension to trading of various goods,services, and the like.

[0196] In an exemplary embodiment, Internet and computer networks can beconfigured to provide a very fast and convenient way for thedistribution of property rights to various items. However, in furtherexemplary embodiments, the distribution of various items can be strictlylimited, for example, as specified by the item owner or as desired bythe user. For example, a property right to view or use personal orprivate data can be provided, wherein the manner of distribution, wheredata is distributed, who can use the data, who should not be able toinspect, copy, distribute or use the data, and the like, can bespecified as one or more conditions and usage rights in the license 142.

[0197] In an exemplary embodiment, access to private information can betreated as an item, and the exemplary usage rights management solutionscan be used to safeguard such private data. For example, the exemplaryembodiments can enable a user to provide private personal data to a Website, and the Web site to sell the data to others, only if the user hasgranted such a property right to the Web site. One parameter of such aproperty right, for example, expressed as a condition, can be thetolerance level of the content owner, as can be quantified, and berepresented by an integer, a descriptive name or other means. In anexemplary embodiment, such a tolerance value can correspond togeographical distribution limits, a list of authorized users, a list ofunauthorized people, such as known hackers or infamous Web sites,pre-defined levels of trust, levels of security for different Web sites,pre-defined levels of privacy for different Web sites or otherparameters or conditions. Such parameters, for example, can be static ordynamically determined and can be tracked as state variables.

[0198] In an exemplary embodiment, Web sites or other distributionsites, for example, can be rated by individuals based on votes or can berated by commercial or non-profit organizations based on surprise auditsor scheduled audits, and with claims or rules set on such sites comparedagainst the criteria of a rating organization. Such ratings can beaccomplished in any suitable manner. For example, the ratings can be acondition of the license 142 for determining if a party can accessprivate information. If there is an unwanted leak of the privateinformation to the outside, the liability of such a site, in terms ofmonetary compensations or otherwise, can be stated as a parameter forthe calculation of the rating of the site.

[0199] In an exemplary embodiment, a condition can include an indicationthat a content owner is willing to sell personal data. For example, thelicense 142 granting access to a network or other service can have as acondition the requirement that the user grants permission to sellpersonal data. In further exemplary embodiments, conditions can includethe price or other compensation or conditions set on such personal data.For example, the exemplary embodiments enable a content owner to receivea percentage or a fixed fee or other benefit, such as airline miles, foreach sale or transaction of personal data. An aggregation of suchmicro-amounts, for example, can be paid at the end of each month orother period, based on the usage rights parameters in the license 142,and through one or more clearinghouses 160.

[0200] In an exemplary embodiment, personal data can be aggregated oraveraged for economic, cultural, regional, national, medical or otherreasons, in which the individual data for a specific person need not beindividually significant. In an exemplary embodiment, the identity ofindividuals typically need not be disclosed. Such data can be used inthe aggregate for a number of purposes, for example, for a medical orcensus purposes by a non-profit or trusted organization. In an exemplaryembodiment, conditions can be used to specify the purpose of thecollection of such data, and usage rights can be used to specify howsuch data can be used, such as in aggregate, on average, and the like.

[0201] In a further exemplary embodiment, a condition can be used tospecify which section or part of the collection of personal data can bepermitted to be used for a given purpose. Such specification can beperformed using an appropriately configured user interface, for example,including a template form, with flags specifying each piece ofinformation, and the like. For example, for a medical study, permissioncan be granted to access the age, height, and weight of a person, butnot the name, income, credit card number, credit history or address ofthe person. For a census or insurance study, the accessible information,for example, can include street addresses or zip codes, the number ofthe accidents in the past six months, the number of cars owned perhousehold, and the like.

[0202] In an exemplary embodiment, a content owner can specify in thelicense 142 that data can be exchanged in the clearinghouse 160 withanother data collection entity, to average, aggregate or sell orexchange such data. Advantageously, the exemplary embodiments enable acontent owner to verify the identity of the acquirer of the data and theassociated level of trust in the new owner, for example, as specifiedconditions, on a case-by-case basis.

[0203] In an exemplary embodiment, the licenses 142 and the redemptionof the tickets 134 can be tracked as state variables. Advantageously,the exemplary embodiments, thus, enable a user to enter personal dataonly once and then maintain or keep track of such data, wherein the useror other designated party can be informed of how the data or which partof the data is being used. The user can be notified where the data is bya tracking means, for example, including sending an e-mail messages backto the user, and the like. In a further exemplary embodiment, the usercan receive remuneration from the sale or use of such personal data.

[0204] In an exemplary embodiment, an item, for example, includingpersonal information can be divided into different components for whichan owner or another authorized person can assign different values ofprivacy conditions. In a further exemplary embodiment, the personalinformation can have just one component.

[0205] In an exemplary embodiment, privacy parameters can be based onvarious kinds of scales. For example, a typical scale for a privacyparameter can be between 0 and 1, wherein zero can signify no privacy,such as non-conditional access, and one can signify absolute privacy,such as no access under any condition. A set of rules can be used todefine the scale for the privacy parameter. Different constraints,conditions, fees, rights, and the like, can be associated with theprivacy parameters and each parameter can be assigned for a givencomponent of the personal information.

[0206] In an exemplary embodiment, the owner of content, an independenttrusted organization or some other entity can set trust ratings fordifferent entities or persons, and such trust ratings can be used asconditions of access for such entity or persons to particularinformation associated with a given privacy parameter. Such trustratings can be based on a scale, such as with the privacy parameters.For example, persons with the highest possible trust ratings can begiven access to information with the highest privacy parameters, andpersons with the lowest trust ratings can be given access to informationrequiring no privacy. The middle ratings can be used to grant access tocorresponding portions of the information. Thus, according to theexemplary embodiments, the content can have a rating and the viewer oruser of the content can have a rating, and a condition to access thecontent can be that the two ratings have a complete or partialcorrespondence, as necessary. In further exemplary embodiments,different parts of the content can have different ratings,advantageously, providing greater flexibility.

[0207] In an exemplary embodiment, usage rights, rights offers, tickets,licenses, and the like, can be expressed by any suitable language,format, tag set, set of rules, grammar or formulations, for example,such as the XrML language, and the like. In further exemplaryembodiments, the various aspects and limitations can be expressed asvarious combinations of items, principals, conditions, and the like. Forexample, a property right can be used to specify that Person A cantransmit a purchase order of less than X dollars to Company C. There arenumerous ways to express the usage rights and conditions of such alicense in a property right, such as with the exemplary rightsexpressions provided below.

[0208] Exemplary Rights Expressions #1:

[0209] Principal: Person A

[0210] Item: Company C Purchasing Service

[0211] Usage Right: Transmit

[0212] Conditions: type=“Purchase Order”, cost<X

[0213] Exemplary Rights Expressions #2:

[0214] Principal: Person A

[0215] Item: Purchase Order

[0216] Usage Right: Transmit

[0217] Conditions: recipient=“Company C Purchasing Service”, cost<X

[0218] Exemplary Rights Expressions #3:

[0219] Principal: Person A

[0220] Item: Any Goods from Company C

[0221] Usage Right: Purchase

[0222] Conditions: cost<X

[0223] Exemplary Rights Expressions #4:

[0224] Principal: Person A

[0225] Item: Any

[0226] Usage Right: Purchase

[0227] Conditions: recipient=“Company C Purchasing Service”, cost<X

[0228] Exemplary Rights Expressions #5:

[0229] Principal: Person A

[0230] Item: Any

[0231] Usage Right: Spend<$X

[0232] Conditions: recipient=“Company C Purchasing Service”

[0233] Exemplary Rights Expressions #6:

[0234] Principal: Person A

[0235] Item: Purchase Order

[0236] Usage Right: Transmit to “Company C Purchasing Service”

[0237] Conditions: cost<X

[0238] Exemplary Rights Expressions #7:

[0239] Principal: Person A

[0240] Items: Purchase Order for “Company C Purchasing Service” costingless than $X total

[0241] Usage Right: Transmit

[0242] Conditions: none

[0243] Exemplary Rights Expressions #8:

[0244] Principal: Person A

[0245] Item: Any

[0246] Usage/Right: Purchase from Company C

[0247] Conditions: cost<X

[0248] From the exemplary rights expressions, it can be seen that aproperty right can be expressed in various ways and the restrictions canbe set forth in a usage right, in the item, as conditions, and the like.Thus, according to the exemplary embodiments, how people use or accessgoods, services or other items, advantageously, can be specified throughenforceable property rights. For example, the owner of an item ordistributor of an item can be given more control over the item and theuser of the item can be given better management over what propertyrights are obtained and at what cost.

[0249] The exemplary embodiments, thus, provide the ability to create anenforceable property right in various items and permit such items to betraded in an open market environment. While such an environment can beemployed for commodities and stocks, the exemplary embodiments,advantageously, enable enforceable proper rights in goods, services, andthe like. The various rights, conditions, items, other indicators, andthe like, of the exemplary embodiments can be expressed in any suitablemanner and can be stored at the same location or in different locations.For example, the ticket 134 can be stored at one location, such as auser device, and the license 142 can be stored at another device orlocation, such as the license server 140. Advantageously, the variousaspects and components of the exemplary embodiments have individualutility and can exist separately. For example, the licenses 142 canexist separately from the tickets 134, and each can exist outside of aspecific computer architecture or system.

[0250] The exemplary systems for distributing the tickets 134 andcreating and enforcing the licenses 142 can utilize various devices,such as a personal computers, servers, workstations, PDAs, thin clients,and the like. For example, the client environment 120 can include ahandheld device, such as a mobile phone, a PDA, and the like.

[0251] Various channels for communication can be employed with theexemplary embodiments and various functions can be integrated in one ormore devices. For example, one or more functions performed by thelicense server 140 can be accomplished by appropriately configuredsoftware and/or hardware within the client environment 120. In furtherexemplary embodiments, one or more of the functions performed by thelicense server 142 or other modules for selecting rights and grantingthe licenses 142 can be accomplished in the same device as that used toaccess and redeem the item tickets 134. The disclosed functional modulesare segregated by function for clarity. In further exemplaryembodiments, however, the various functions of the exemplary systems canbe combined or segregated as hardware and/or software modules in anysuitable manner. Accordingly, the various functions can be usefulseparately or in combination.

[0252] The various elements, portions thereof, and the like, of theexemplary embodiments can be stored on the same device or on differentdevices. For example, the license 142 can be stored together with orseparate from the item ticket 134. In further exemplary embodiments, thevarious elements of the license 142 can be stored on separate devices.For example, the values of the state variables can be stored in a statevariable repository of a system that tracks the current value of thestate variables. The exemplary embodiments can employ various links,references, specifications, and the like, to associate such elements.

[0253] The exemplary embodiments can be further employed for offlinemodes of operation. For example, the item 134 and the license server 140can reside on the same device as the client component 122, and theactivation server 110 also can reside on the same device. Such a devicecan include a hard drive of a personal computer or some other hand heldor transportable device. Advantageously, the exemplary embodimentsenable a transaction to be consummated without having to establish acommunication session with another device, through the Internet orotherwise.

[0254] In exemplary embodiment, a hard drive on a personal computer caninclude the ticket 134 generating software, document preparationsoftware, the activation server 110 software, and the like. Suchsoftware systems or components can provide the computing resources toprepare an item, for example, content, such as a song, movie, and thelike, create the item ticket 134 and the license 142 defining the rightsand conditions associated with the item and to redeem the ticket 134 inaccordance with such rights and conditions. In exemplary embodiment,such software systems can communicate with each other within the harddrive of the personal computer, and the like.

[0255] In an exemplary embodiment, to the extent communication outsidethe client device are employed to process a transaction for some reason,for example, to make a financial payment, there can be conducted anonline session at a time other than the request for or use of the item.For example, the client device can communicate with the clearinghouse160 and make an online payment. The payment can be recorded in thedevice within, for example, but not exclusively, the license server 140software component on the client device. The record can be recorded as amonetary amount, such as $100.00, or as units, such as ten viewings of amovie file or ten one-day rentals of a Hertz rental car or in any othersuitable manner. Each use can be recorded and deducted from theauthorized amount or number of uses. In the case of a financialtransaction, it is possible to make the transaction offline using adigital storage device, such as a smart card, removable storage device,and the like. In an exemplary embodiment, information to be exchangedcan be exchanged using a physical device in substitution for onlinecommunication. For example, the license 142 can be presented byinserting a card into a personal computer.

[0256] In exemplary embodiment, the customer holding the item ticket 134can present the ticket 134 and obtain an item, such as access toservice, and the like, without having to be online at the time theservice is obtained. The service itself, which is obtained, can resideon a device controlled by the customer, such as a personal computer harddrive, and the like. In an exemplary embodiment, the service can includethe execution of a computer program.

[0257] In further exemplary embodiments regarding car rentals, theclearinghouse 160 can have a contract with the three car rentalcompanies as vendors 150, from which a user can rent a compact car for 6days in August, to be used in New York City. The item ticket 134 canconfigured to be redeemable to thereby exercise the property right ofthe corresponding license 142 from one of the three car rentalcompanies. The usage rights of the license 142 associated with the itemticket 134 can be used to specify various aspects of such a propertyright, such as six days in August of the current year in a specificcity. The item ticket 134 can be carried by the customer as digitalinformation on a transportable device or in the form of a displayable orprintable coupon and presented to one of the vendors 150. The vendor 150can read the digital information or extract information from a printedticket, such as by scanning, and the like, with no need for the customerand the vendor to engage in an online form of communication.

[0258] In an exemplary embodiment, a condition for allowing access to oruse of a digital work or other item may be that the repository which isrequesting access or which is proposed to receive or store or in any waybe involved with the item have certain attributes or otherwise beconfigured in certain ways or not have certain attributes orconfigurations. For example, the repository can be required to possessminimal security attributes. If the repository is part of a personaldocument assistant (PDA) device, the repository can require that the PDAhave specified or minimal security attributes and that the PDA beconfigured to permit the PDA to support the required conditions foraccess.

[0259] In an exemplary embodiment, a repository, including a device,such as a PDA, personal computer, and the like, can be reconfiguredbefore such device can be involved with a digital work or other item.For example, such reconfiguration could involve the installation of newsoftware at the repository or system or devices that control therepository, could involve changing parameters or other settings ofexisting software, could take the form of a software plug in, and thelike.

[0260] In an exemplary embodiment, a condition for access, possession orthe involvement with a digital work or other item of any suitable kindof repository or device can be that the repository or device permitsitself to be reconfigured. For example, such reconfiguration can includethat the repository or device allowing itself to be accessed, forexample, by the central control repository 706, for changing defaultsettings, installing new software, modifying existing software,inserting a plug in, disabling certain software or features, and thelike, for example, in a way that such changes cannot be negated or atleast not easily negated.

[0261] In an exemplary embodiment, if a repository or other device willnot allow itself to be accessed or configured, then such a device neednot be allowed to handle the digital work or other item. In furtherexemplary embodiments, such a device might be denied the right to handlecertain types of items or not be allowed to perform functions otherwisepermitted. In further exemplary embodiments, if upon accessing therepository or device, it is determined that such a device cannot bereconfigured in a way that meets the requirement of a condition, forexample, such as when a repository, even after being reconfigured doesnot possess a minimum level of security, then the right to access orotherwise handle the item can be denied.

[0262] In further exemplary embodiments, the purpose of access to therepository or device can be to ascertain whether or not such as devicemeets one or more conditions. For example, if it is determined that suchas device does meet such conditions, then reconfiguration need not benecessary or if it is determined that such a device does meet suchconditions in part, then limited reconfiguration could be necessary.

[0263] In an exemplary embodiment, the condition that a repository ordevice be reconfigurable or reconfigured, for example, can apply to anysuitable type of repository or device and to any suitable function thatsuch a device might perform. For example, a condition could apply to anyrepository or device which is to store a digital work or other item orwhich is to render the item or which is to transmit the item across acommunications medium or which is a communications medium.

[0264]FIG. 9 is a flowchart of an exemplary process for processingrights expressions of a recipient of an item based on rules and that canbe employed in the exemplary Digital Rights Management systems of FIGS.1 and 5-7. In FIG. 9, at step 902 a potential recipient of an itemspecifies a rights expression indicating a first manner of use of theitem proposed by the recipient and a provider of the item specifies asecond rights expression indicating a second manner of use of the itemproposed by the provider. At step 904, a correspondence between thefirst rights expression and the second rights expression is determined.If a correspondence can be determined, as verified at step 906, then, atstep 908, a rule is applied to the determined correspondence todetermine if the recipient should be granted use of the item. If use ofthe item can be granted, as verified at step 910, then, at step 912, therecipient can be granted use of the item. If, however, there is nocorrespondence or if use of the item cannot be granted, then, at step914, the recipient can be denied use of the item.

[0265]FIG. 10 is a flowchart of an exemplary process for processingrights expressions of a recipients and suppliers of an item and that canbe employed in the exemplary Digital Rights Management systems of FIGS.1 and 5-7. In FIG. 10, at step 1002, a recipient of an item specifies arights expression indicating a desired manner of use of the item by therecipient and/or a condition of use of the item by the recipient. Atstep 1004, the rights expression is associated with the item. If thedesired manner of use of the item and the condition of use of the itemcan be satisfied by the provider, as verified at step 1006, then, atstep 1008, the item can be supplied to the recipient. If, however, thedesired manner of use of the item and the condition of use of the itemcannot be satisfied by the provider, at step 1010, the item need not besupplied to the recipient.

[0266]FIG. 11 is a flowchart of an exemplary process for processingrights expressions associated with a repository and that can be employedin the exemplary Digital Rights Management systems of FIGS. 1 and 5-7.In FIG. 11, at step 1002, a repository rights expression indicating amanner of use of an item at a repository can be specified. At step 1104,the repository rights expression can be associated with the repository.If a request for the item is received at the repository, as verified atstep 1106 or the item is processed by the repository, as verified atstep 1010, then, at step 1108, an action the repository is to take whenthe repository processes the item or the repository receives the requestfor the item based on the repository rights expression can be performedby the repository. If, however, the request for the item is not receivedat the repository or the item is not processed by the repository, atstep 1010, no action need be taken by the repository.

[0267] Thus, according to the exemplary embodiments, a rights expressioncan include a tangible, for example, electronic, and the like,articulation of usage rights, conditions, licenses or portions thereof.A rights expressions can include an XrML file or fragment, but also canbe expressed in any suitable language, grammar, format, alphabet, andthe like. Usage rights can be expressed as a rights expression and caninclude a manner of use, conditions, and the like. Licenses also caninclude the noted elements of a usage right and can further includeprincipals, keys, identifications, and the like. A recipient of an itemof the exemplary embodiments can include a user, a distributor, aconsumer, and the like, of the item. The granting of access to an itemcan include granting use of an item, allowing lending of an item,allowing access to an item, and the like.

[0268] The devices and subsystems of the exemplary systems describedwith respect to FIGS. 1-11 can communicate, for example, over acommunications network 170, and can include any suitable servers,workstations, personal computers (PCs), laptop computers, PDAs, Internetappliances, set top boxes, modems, handheld devices, telephones,cellular telephones, wireless devices or other devices capable ofperforming the processes of the disclosed exemplary embodiments. Thedevices and subsystems, for example, can communicate with each otherusing any suitable protocol and can be implemented using ageneral-purpose computer system, and the like. One or more interfacemechanisms can be employed, for example, including Internet access,telecommunications in any suitable form, such as voice, modem, and thelike, wireless communications media, and the like. Accordingly,communications network 170 can include, for example, wirelesscommunications networks, cellular communications networks, satellitecommunications networks, Public Switched Telephone Networks (PSTNs),Packet Data Networks (PDNs), the Internet, intranets, hybridcommunications networks, combinations thereof, and the like.Accordingly, the communications network 170 can include one or morenetworks.

[0269] It is to be understood that the exemplary systems described withrespect to FIGS. 1-11, are for exemplary purposes, as many variations ofthe specific hardware used to implement the disclosed exemplaryembodiments are possible. For example, the functionality of the devicesand the subsystems of the exemplary systems can be implemented via oneor more programmed computer systems or devices. To implement, suchvariations as well as other variations, a single computer system can beprogrammed to perform the functions of one or more of the devices andsubsystems of the exemplary systems. On the other hand, two or moreprogrammed computer systems or devices can be substituted for one ormore of the devices and subsystems of the exemplary systems.Accordingly, principles and advantages of distributed processing, suchas redundancy, replication, and the like, also can be implemented, asdesired, for example, to increase the robustness and performance of theexemplary systems described with respect to FIGS. 1-11.

[0270] The exemplary systems described with respect to FIGS. 1-11 can beused to store information relating to various processes describedherein. This information can be stored in one or more memories, such asa hard disk, floppy disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, RAM, ROM,and the like, of the devices and sub-systems of the exemplary systemsdescribed with respect to FIGS. 1-11. One or more databases of thedevices and subsystems can store the information used to implement theexemplary embodiments. The databases can be organized using datastructures, such as records, tables, arrays, fields, graphs, trees,lists, and the like, included in one or more memories, such as thememories listed above.

[0271] All or a portion of the exemplary systems described with respectto FIGS. 1-11 can be conveniently implemented using one or moregeneral-purpose computer systems, microprocessors, digital signalprocessors, micro-controllers, and the like, programmed according to theteachings of the disclosed exemplary embodiments. Appropriate softwarecan be readily prepared by programmers of ordinary skill based on theteachings of the disclosed exemplary embodiments. In addition, theexemplary systems can be implemented by the preparation ofapplication-specific integrated circuits or by interconnecting anappropriate network of component circuits.

[0272] Stored on any one or on a combination of computer readable media,the exemplary embodiments of the present invention can include softwarefor controlling the devices and sub-systems of the exemplary systemsdescribed with respect to FIGS. 1-11, for driving a device or devicesfor implementing the invention, and for enabling the devices andsub-systems of the exemplary systems described with respect to FIGS.1-11 to interact with a human user. Such software can include, but isnot limited to, device drivers, firmware, operating systems, developmenttools, applications software, etc. Such computer readable media furthercan include the computer program product of an embodiment of the presentinvention for performing all or a portion (if processing is distributed)of the processing performed in implementing the invention. Computer codedevices of the embodiments of the present invention can include anyinterpretable or executable code mechanism, including but not limited toscripts, interpretable programs, dynamic link libraries (DLLs), Javaclasses and applets, complete executable programs, Common Object RequestBroker Architecture (CORBA) objects, etc. Moreover, parts of theprocessing of the embodiments of the present invention can bedistributed for better performance, reliability, and/or cost.

[0273] The computer readable medium can include any suitable medium thatparticipates in providing instructions to a processor for execution.Such a medium can take many forms, including, but not limited to,non-volatile media, volatile media, transmission media, and the like.Non-volatile media can include, for example, optical or magnetic disks,magneto-optical disks, and the like. Volatile media can include dynamicmemory, and the like. Transmission media can include coaxial cables,copper wire and fiber optics, including the wires that make up one orbuses of a computer. Transmission media also can take the form ofacoustic, optical, or electromagnetic waves, such as those generatedduring radio frequency (RF) and infrared (IR) data communications.

[0274] As stated above, the exemplary systems described with respect toFIGS. 1-11 can include one or more computer readable medium or memoryfor holding instructions programmed according to the teachings of theinvention and for including data structures, tables, records or otherdata described herein. Common forms of computer-readable media caninclude, for example, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk,magnetic tape, any other magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, CDRW, DVD, any otheroptical medium, punch cards, paper tape, optical mark sheets, any otherphysical medium with patterns of holes or other optically recognizableindicia, a RAM, a PROM, and EPROM, a FLASH-EPROM, any other memory chipor cartridge, a carrier wave, or any other medium from which a computercan read.

[0275] Various forms of computer-readable media can be involved inproviding instructions to a processor for execution. For example, theinstructions for carrying out at least part of the exemplary embodimentsof the present invention can initially be borne on a magnetic disk of aremote computer connected to the network 170. In such a scenario, theremote computer can load the instructions into main memory and send theinstructions, for example, over a telephone line using a modem. A modemof a local computer system can receive the data on the telephone lineand use an infrared transmitter to convert the data to an infraredsignal and transmit the infrared signal to a portable computing device,such as a personal digital assistant (PDA), a laptop, an Internetappliance, and the like. An infrared detector on the portable computingdevice can receive the information and instructions borne by theinfrared signal and place the data on a bus. The bus can convey the datato main memory, from which a processor retrieves and executes theinstructions. The instructions received by the main memory canoptionally be stored on storage device either before or after executionby a processor.

[0276] Advantageously, the exemplary embodiments described herein can beemployed to allow a consumer or user of digital content or other itemsto provide usage rights specifying conditions or terms for accepting thecontent or items to be consumed or otherwise used. Partial satisfactionof the usage rights or conditions can be employed to allow access,including reconciling of varying or conflicting usage rights orconditions. Usage rights can be associated with a repository, which thencan pass the usage rights along to the content or items. The usagerights can be used to determine what functions the repository isauthorized to perform with respect to the content or items. Thedistribution and use of the content or items can be determined andcontrolled without usage rights associated the content or items, whereinthe usage rights are associated with the repository, which examine,analyze, and process the digital content or other items. The exemplaryembodiments can be employed in conjunction with systems where arepository handling the content or items assigns usage rights to thecontent or items.

[0277] Advantageously, the exemplary embodiments described herein can beemployed in offline systems, online systems, and the like, and inapplications, such as TV applications, computer applications, DVDapplications, VCR applications, appliance applications, CD playerapplications, and the like. In addition, the signals employed totransmit the legality expression of the exemplary embodiments, can beconfigured to be transmitted within the visible spectrum of a human,within the audible spectrum of a human, not within the visible spectrumof a human, not within the audible spectrum of a human, combinationsthereof, and the like.

[0278] Although the exemplary embodiments are described in terms ofapplications in music, games, movies, coupons, legal arenas, and thelike, the exemplary embodiments are applicable to any suitableapplication, such as digital and non-digital content, devices, software,services, goods, resources, and the like, and can be practiced withvariations in technology, interface, language, grammar, content, rights,offerings, services, speed, size, limitations, devices, and the like.

[0279] While the present invention have been described in connectionwith a number of exemplary embodiments and implementations, the presentinvention is not so limited but rather covers various modifications andequivalent arrangements, which fall within the purview of the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for enforcing rights expressions specifying manners of use of an item, said method comprising: specifying a repository rights expression indicating a manner of use of an item at a repository; and associating said repository rights expression with said repository, wherein said manner of use indicates at least one of what action said repository is to take when said repository processes said item and what action said repository is to take when said repository receives a request for said item.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said repository rights expression specifies a rights expression indicating a manner of use of said item and to be associated with said item and said method further comprises: associating said rights expression specifying said manner of use of said item with said item, when said repository processes said item.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein said item includes a rights expression associated therewith and indicating a manner of use of said item and said method further comprises: determining what action said repository is to take when said repository processes said item based on a combination of said repository rights expression and the rights expression associated with said item.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein said repository rights expression applies to one of all items that said repository processes and all requests for items received by said repository.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein said repository rights expression applies to one of specific items that said repository processes and specific requests for items received by said repository.
 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising: specifying a plurality of said repository rights expression indicating respective manners of use of said item at said repository of said item; and associating the plural repository rights expressions with said repository of said item.
 7. The method of claim 3, further comprising: specifying in said repository rights expression that the rights expression associated with said item overrules said repository rights expression.
 8. The method of claim 3, further comprising: specifying in said repository rights expression that said repository rights expression overrules the rights expression associated with said item.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein said item includes a rights expression associated therewith including a pointer to said repository and said method further comprises: providing said item to said repository based on said pointer; and performing said actions specified in said repository rights expression on said item.
 10. The method of claim 1, further comprising: configuring said repository as a central control repository for managing a plurality of items; specifying respective repository rights expressions indicating respective manners of use of said items at said central control repository; and associating said respective repository rights expressions with said central control repository, wherein said respective manners of use indicate at least one of what respective actions said central control repository is to take when said central control repository processes a respective item and what action said central control repository is to take when said respective receives a respective request for an item.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein said items include respective rights expressions associated therewith including a pointer to a repository and said method further comprises: presenting said items to said central control repository irrespective of said pointer; and performing said respective actions specified in said respective repository rights expressions on said items.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein said respective repository rights expressions overrule said respective rights expressions associated with said items.
 13. The method of claim 10, further comprising: passing by said system traffic related to said items through said central control repository.
 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising: one of controlling said traffic, censoring said traffic and auditing said traffic, based on said passing step.
 15. The method of claim 10, wherein said respective repository rights expressions specify respective manners of use of said items and to be associated with said items and said method further comprises: associating by said central control repository said respective rights expressions with said items, when said central control repository processes said items.
 16. The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining the actions to be taken by said repository based on a characteristic of said item.
 17. The method of claim 10, further comprising: determining the respective actions to be taken by said central control repository based on respective rights expressions associated with said items.
 18. The method of claim 10, further comprising: searching by said central control repository for items corresponding to said respective repository rights expressions in other repositories; and performing the respective actions said central control repository is to take when said central control repository finds said items corresponding to said respective repository rights expressions in said other repositories.
 19. The method of claim 1, wherein said manner of use comprises a usage right.
 20. The method of claim 1, wherein said manner of use includes a prohibited manner of use of said item.
 21. The method of claim 1, wherein said manner of use includes a permitted manner of use of said item.
 22. The method of claim 1, further comprising: specifying in said repository rights expression a condition for said repository taking said actions with respect to said item being that said item be at least one of comprised and configured in a specified manner.
 23. The method of claim 1, wherein said item includes at least one of digital content, digital goods, digital services, non-digital content, non-digital goods and non-digital services.
 24. A computer system comprising one or more memories and one or more processors and configured to perform the method of claim
 1. 25. A computer-readable medium bearing instructions arranged to cause one or more processors to perform the method of claim
 1. 26. A system for enforcing rights expressions specifying manners of use of an item, said system comprising: means for specifying a repository rights expression indicating a manner of use of an item at a repository; and means for associating said repository rights expression with said repository, wherein said manner of use indicates at least one of what action said repository is to take when said repository processes said item and what action said repository is to take when said repository receives a request for said item.
 27. The system of claim 26, wherein said means for specifying, and said means for associating comprise devices of a computer system.
 28. The system of claim 26, wherein said means for specifying, and said means for associating comprise devices of a computer system.
 29. A system for enforcing rights expressions specifying manners of use of an item, said system comprising: one or more repositories having associated therewith one or more rights expressions indicating at least one of a manner of use and a condition of use of an item at a repository; and wherein said manner of use and condition of use indicates at least one of what action said repository is to take when said repository processes said item and what action said repository is to take when said repository receives a request for said item.
 30. The system of claim 29, wherein at least one of said repositories is configured to compare respective rights expression thereof with a rights expression associated with said item and indicating at least one of a manner of use and a condition of use of said item to determine at least one of what action said repository is to take when said repository processes said item and if use of said item should be granted.
 31. The system of claim 29, wherein said one or more repositories comprise first and second repositories, and said system further comprises: said first repository having associated therewith a first rights expression indicating at least one of a manner of use and a condition of use of said item at said first repository; and said second repository having associated therewith a second rights expression indicating at least one of a manner and a condition of use of said item at said second repository, wherein said first repository and said second repository are configured to compare a rights expression associated with said item and indicating at least one of a manner of use and a condition of use of said item with said first rights expression and said second rights expression to determine at least one of what action said repository is to take when said repository processes said item and if use of said item should be granted.
 32. The system of claim 29, wherein said item is configured to be required to be processed by said system.
 33. The system of claim 29, wherein at least one repository of said one or more repositories is configured to examine characteristic of said item.
 34. The system of claim 29, wherein at least one of said manner of use and said condition of use comprises a usage right.
 35. The system of claim 29 wherein said manner of use includes a prohibited manner of use of said item.
 36. The system of claim 29, wherein said manner of use includes a permitted manner of use of said item.
 37. The system of claim 29, wherein at least one repository of said one or more repositories comprises a rendering repository.
 38. The system of claim 29, wherein at least one repository of said one or more repositories comprises a printer.
 39. The system of claim 30, wherein said respective repository rights expressions overrule said rights expression associated with said item.
 40. The system of claim 30, wherein said respective repository rights expressions are overruled by said rights expression associated with said item.
 41. The system of claim 29, wherein a condition for processing said item by at least one repository of said one or more repositories is that said item be at least one of comprised and configured in a manner specified by a respective repository rights expression.
 42. The system of claim 29, wherein a condition for processing said item by at least one repository of said one or more repositories is that said at least one repository be at least one of comprised and configured in a manner specified by at least one of a respective repository rights expression and a rights expression associated with said item.
 43. The system of claim 29, wherein said item includes at least one of an audio item and a video item.
 44. The system of claim 29, wherein said item includes at least one of digital content, digital goods, digital services, non-digital content, non-digital goods and non-digital services.
 45. A repository for use in a system for enforcing rights expressions specifying manners of use of an item, said repository comprising: a processor module configured to process a rights expression associated with said repository and indicating at least one of a manner of use and a condition of use of an item at said repository; and a determination module configured to determine based on said rights expression associated with said repository at least one of what action said repository is to take when said repository processes said item and what action said repository is to take when said repository receives a request for said item.
 46. The repository of claim 45, further comprising: a comparison module configured to compare a rights expression associated with said item and indicating at least one of a manner of use and a condition of use of said item with said rights expression associated with said repository for said determination module to determine said action. 